Serving as a Lutheran School principal is a full-time ministry, not a ten month per year assignment. There may be circumstances when the school principal may be paid equal or more than the pastor. This might be the situation when taking into account educational background, years of relevant experience and responsibilities. It is important for a congregation to have a comprehensive view of salaries for all employees when at all possible. Do not overlook these.
Many surveys now indicate benefits to have become almost as important to U.S. workers as salary.
Holidays and vacations form a part of the compensation package. Be clear about expectations for the principal regarding duties during special breaks, e.g. Christmas and Spring breaks. For example, if the principal does not report during Christmas break, is that considered part of the four weeks of vacation time given to the principal. While some of the above details may need to be negotiated later, there does need to be some general agreement up-front regarding paid vacation and days off. One of the best financial investments a school can make is in its principal and teaching faculty.