Scott Elder is slated to run Albuquerque Public Schools for at least three years, and he will continue to make $225,000 annually for now with a host of benefits.
His employment contract was approved by the Board of Education on Monday, which outlined his term from July 1 to June 30, 2024, with potential extensions and opportunities for raises.
“That (term is) usually the minimum for a large, urban district and Scott’s salary is actually a little less than what’s normally recommended,” Board President David Peercy said during a meeting Monday morning.
The school board voted 5-1 to sign off on the contract. Peggy Muller-Aragón, who voted no, raised issues about parts of the agreement, including a provision that commits the board to pay the superintendent’s legal fees under some circumstances. Yolanda Montoya-Cordova wasn’t present for the vote.
Contract Highlights
- Annual leave of 22 paid days a year
- $500 a month for community organization expenses
- A district car to use
- $250,000 life insurance policy
- Employer-paid contributions to a supplemental retirement plan of $50,000 at the end of the 2021-2022 contract year, $55,000 at the end of the 2022-2023 contract year and $60,000 at the end of the 2023-2024 contract year
The board picked Elder to be the district’s superintendent in March following a lengthy search and after he had been serving as interim superintendent.
While his salary is the same as when he was interim superintendent, it can increase each year.
“This salary shall be increased in each school year during the term of this contract to reflect the Board of Education’s yearly evaluation review, meeting agreed-(upon) goals and available state revenue,” the document states.
There is also the potential for a salary adjustment based on decisions that come down from the Roundhouse.
“The board shall further have the authority, for any school year governed by the terms of this contract and for which a salary increase is mandated if the district meets conditions as specified by the legislature of New Mexico, to implement salary adjustments during the school year in accordance with a salary schedule adopted by the board in accordance with the legislative guidelines for that year,” the contract states.
Elder succeeds Raquel Reedy who was in charge of the district for five years.
Employment Contract between Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education and Scott Elder 2021 by Albuquerque Journal on Scribd
This is a draft of the employment contract. Board members made the following changes at a public meeting: altered the term from a two-year period to a three-year period; the annual salary was changed to read $225,000 instead of $225.000; and language was altered on page five to say that the board and superintendent “may” meet in executive session rather than “shall.”
