The superintendent of the Abbotsford school district was the 11th highest paid in B.C. for the 2010-11 school year.
Numbers released Monday, Dec. 19 by the Public Sector Employers’ Council indicate that the head of the local school district earned $194,176, including pension and other compensation such as a monthly vehicle allowance and parking.
This compares to Surrey with its top-ranked payout of $257,895.
In Abbotsford, Julie MacRae was the superintendent for the period covered in the report. She has since left to take on a similar position in Saskatchewan, and Kevin Godden has taken over the role.
Godden was deputy superintendent during the period of the report, and he pocketed just over $121,000, as well as an additional $57,000 while serving as secretary-treasurer during a disruption in staff for that position.
Mark Lee resigned from the role at the beginning of June 2010, but new secretary-treasurer Ray Velestuk did not take over until Nov. 1 of that year. He recorded almost $114,000 in pay to the period ending June 30, 2011.
A Black Press review of the figures shows the size of the district doesn’t always match the size of the manager’s salary.
While Surrey, the biggest school district in terms of student population, paid its superintendent the highest salary, North Vancouver – the smallest school district in the big 10 – paid the second-highest management compensation.
Abbotsford, which pays 11th, is the eighth largest district.
Mission’s student population of 6,413 doesn’t make the top-10 list for size of district, but superintendent Frank Dunham was the eighth highest paid in B.C.
During the same fiscal year, Abbotsford school trustees made $21,000, with the chair and vice-chair paid $26,000 and $23,500 respectively.
Those salaries will increase by $500 starting Dec. 1, 2012.
Under the current collective agreement, teachers employed by the Abbotsford school district make from $42,802 to $81,489, depending on experience.
Ten largest B.C. school districts ranked by size of student population as of the 2010/11 school year (numbers from provincial ministry of education):
1. Surrey (72,278)
2. Vancouver (58,659)
3. Coquitlam (33,131)
4. Burnaby (25,655)
5. Richmond (23,201)
6. Central Okanagan (21,777)
7. Greater Victoria (20,277)
8. Abbotsford (19,879)
9. Langley (19,809)
10. North Vancouver (16,332)
Top 11 ranked by amount paid to superintendents:
1. Surrey $257,895.13
2. North Vancouver $245,891
3. Vancouver $239,157.39
4. Greater Victoria $233,042
5. Coquitlam $222,738
6. Maple Ridge $212,051.60
7. Central Okanagan $201,340
8. Mission $200,210
9. Burnaby $199,649
10. Langley $198,503
11. Abbotsford $194,176
– with files from Dan Ferguson, Black Press
