School Superintendent Getting 275K Salary

Details of the agreement to hire Michael Thurmond as Interim Superintendent of the DeKalb County School District have been made public. 

Thurmond is the temporary replacement for Cheryl Atkinson, who resigned on Feb. 8 after a contentious 16-month tenure.

The deal calls for Thurmond to receive an annual salary of $275,000 plus $2,600 a month in "routine" expenses. He will have "full-time use of an automobile furnished by the Board," according to the document. If he prefers to use his own car, a monthly travel allowance of $750 will be provided.

Additionally, the contract states the Interim Superintendent "is authorized to incur reasonable expenses in the discharge of his duties," and will receive full health benefits and life insurance. He can also undertake outside activities such as "consultative work, speaking engagements, writings, lectures or other professional duties."

"I think that the salary is very high for the job, especially when teachers have not had a raise in years, and the system is broke," said Tucker Patch reader Rosalee Vance in a Facebook post.

"He has absolutely no educational background or training," said Ken Sheppard about the former Labor Commissioner, and Charles Marvil wondered, "why did the BOE agree to give Michael Thurmond $160,000 MORE than the previous Superintendent?"

Lisa Stone asked, "is he actually going to try to right the ship or is he just a placeholder until we get a new permanent super? If just basically a placeholder, shouldn't he be paid a lot less? Also, don't these 'supers' know how to drive?!"

What do YOU think about Thurmond's contract?

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