Copyright © 2022 Albuquerque Journal
Albuquerque Public Schools’ Superintendent Scott Elder is still in his bosses’ good graces, for the most part.
The APS board voted 5-1 to approve Elder’s contract with an immediate 3% raise, along with a 4% raise that will come later this year. He currently makes about $225,000. When both raises kick in, his salary will be about $241,000, according to a formula released by the district earlier this year.
The salary bump, according to a motion by board Secretary Courtney Jackson, was “in alignment with the other employees’ raises.”
However, the board decided not to extend Elder’s contract by an additional year. His contract currently ends June 30, 2024.
Only Vice President Peggy Muller-Aragón voted “no” on the motion. Board member Danielle Gonzales was absent for the vote.
President Yolanda Montoya-Cordova said in a board statement after the vote that members felt the raise was “fair and in alignment with the work we are asking the superintendent to complete.”
That included working with a consultant in developing a strategic plan and with a coach to enhance “leadership and academic performance and outcome.” She said that constituted a “complete overhaul of how we are asking the superintendent to perform his job.”
“He has demonstrated he’s invested in the district and the new strategic process,” she said. “We as a board want to support our employee, and we plan to hold ourselves and the superintendent accountable to our goals … because there is a high expectation of where we want the district to be.”
Elder was formally selected for the job in March 2021.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct Scott Elder’s salary. The APS website contained an incorrect salary that the Journal reported in the initial version.
