3 Oklahoma school districts go over legal limit for administrative spending
BY CARRIE COPPERNOLL
Sunday, January 20, 2013
1/21/13 at 12:31 PM
Correction: A story that appeared Sunday in the Tulsa World incorrectly listed the top 20 superintendents' salaries in Oklahoma. This story has been corrected.
OKLAHOMA CITY - The state Education Department is looking into the reason three Oklahoma school districts went over the legal limit for administrative costs.
While state workers continue to investigate, one thing is certain - all cases are related to superintendent salaries.
State law limits how much school districts can spend on administrative costs, such as superintendents, secretaries and consultants.
The law exists to protect students, said Joel Robison, chief of staff for the state Education Department.
Click here to read the complete article at NewsOK.com.
Top superintendent salaries
Oklahoma school districts pay an average of $100,967 to superintendents each year, according to data from the state Education Department. These districts give their top educators the most.
1. Kirby Lehman
District: Jenks
County: Tulsa
Salary: $260,000
District Grade: B
Enrollment: 10,700
2. Catherine Burden
District: Union
County: Tulsa
Salary: $216,000
District Grade: B
Enrollment: 14,800
3. David Pennington
District: Ponca City
County: Kay
Salary: $204,000
District Grade: C
Enrollment: 5,200
4. Joe Siano
District: Norman
County: Cleveland
Salary: $202,000
District Grade: B
Enrollment: 14,900
5. Karl Springer
District: Oklahoma City
County: Oklahoma
Salary: $201,000
District Grade: D
Enrollment: 42,700
6. Shawn Hime
District: Enid
County: Garfield
Salary: $191,000
District Grade: C
Enrollment: 7,200
7. Jarod Mendenhall
District: Broken Arrow
County: Tulsa
Salary: $186,000
District Grade: C
Enrollment: 16,900
8. Keith Ballard
District: Tulsa
County: Tulsa
Salary: $181,000
District Grade: D
Enrollment: 40,400
9. Lloyd Snow
District: Sand Springs
County: Tulsa
Salary: $176,000
District Grade: B
Enrollment: 5,200
10. David Goin
District: Edmond
County: Oklahoma
Salary: $173,000
District Grade: A
Enrollment: 22,000
11. Rita Ford
District: Eufaula
County: McIntosh
Salary: $172,000
District Grade: C
Enrollment: 580
12. Gloria Griffin
District: Millwood
County: Oklahoma
Salary: $172,000
District Grade: D
Enrollment: 1,000
13. Leigh Beauchamp
District: Lawton
County: Comanche
Salary: $171,000
District Grade: C
Enrollment: 15,900
14. Paul Hurst
District: Putnam City
County: Oklahoma
Salary: $166,000
District Grade: C
Enrollment: 18,900
15. Douglas McDaniel
District: Deer Creek
County: Oklahoma
Salary: $165,000
District Grade: A
Enrollment: 4,200
16. William Simeroth
District: Durant
County: Bryan
Salary: $165,000
District Grade: B
Enrollment: 3,500
17. Ann Caine
District: Stillwater
County: Payne
Salary: $163,000
District Grade: B
Enrollment: 5,800
18. Kevin Burr
District: Sapulpa
County: Creek
Salary: $161,000
District Grade: B
Enrollment: 4,100
19. Michael Garden
District: Muskogee
County: Muskogee
Salary: $156,000
District Grade: C
Enrollment: 6,200
20. Robert Wood
District: Bixby
County: Tulsa and Wagoner
Salary: $155,000
District Grade: B
Enrollment: 5,100
Three districts paid too much, state says
Three Oklahoma school districts paid too much for administrative costs this year, according to the state Education Department. The districts face fines equal to the amount they overpaid their administrators. Here is information about each of the cases.
Cameron Public Schools, in LeFlore County, exceeded the limit by more than $58,000. Cameron Superintendent Jim Caughern wrote a one-sentence letter to the state Board of Education explaining the problem: "The reason for excess of administrative cost is due to the board of education electing to buy out previous superintendent, Carolyn White."
The district hasn't broken the rule before. Cameron received a C under the new state school evaluation system.
Thackerville Public Schools, in Love County, spent nearly $29,000 too much. A buyout of former Superintendent David Herron pushed administrative costs above the legal limit, according to a letter written by payroll clerk Marcia Bell.
"Our school had to buy out his contract beginning with February 2012 and ending in June 2012," Bell wrote. "The amount of $32,659.35 was how much our district had to pay Mr. Herron for the remainder of his contract."
The district hasn't exceeded the cost rule in the past. Thackerville received a C under the new state school evaluation system.
Farris Public School in Atoka County went over by nearly $10,000. Administrative costs were too high because of the superintendent's salary, said Nancy Hughes, executive director of financial accounting for the state Education Department.
Hughes said the district also exceeded the legal limit in 2006 and 2007. Superintendent Wes Watson earns $100,000 a year, according to state data. He serves as superintendent, principal, counselor and librarian for the school.
Watson wrote a letter to the state Board of Education, stating that low administration limits have put undue pressure on small districts. "The actions of the state and the state department of education has created an unfair atmosphere for small school districts to operate in," he wrote. Farris received an F under the new state school evaluation system.
Original Print Headline: 3 School Districts Exceed Spending Limit
ccoppernoll@opubco.com
