$230K Annual Salary for New School District Superintendent

The draft contract for newly appointed Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District superintendent  calls for a $230,000 base salary. That is $10,000 more than the base salary of outgoing Superintendent Tim Cuneo, but he also received a $38,400 annual housing allowance. Her contract does not include a housing allowance.

(The contract is attached to this article.)

Six superintendents in Los Angeles County made more than $230,000 in 2010, according to a database on the Sacramento Bee's website. The Board of Education is expected to approve Lyon's contract at its meeting Thursday in Santa Monica.

The contract is for three years with a one-year renewal option. Other features include health, dental and disability benefits; 24 days of paid vacation per year; 12 days of sick/personal necessity leave per year and up to five days of bereavement leave. She also gets a $900 monthly allowance for cellphone and vehicle use and up to $12,000 to relocate to the district.

Another feature of the contract is up to $12,000 for a "coach" during Lyon's first year on the job. The coach would likely be a former superintendent, and serve as a guide for Lyon, who has no previous experience as a superintendent for a multi-school district. Although Lyon's title at the Hughes-Elizabeth Lakes School District was principal/superintendent, that district only contains one school.

Lyon's job will begin July 1.

The board meeting on Thursday is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the SMMUSD office, located at 1651 16 St. in Santa Monica.