SUPERINTENDENT'S SALARY AND BENEFITS:

INSTANT NEWS KATY·

Katy ISD has posted Superintendent Alton Frailey’s updated contract on the district’s website, showing details of the employment agreement as updated in January.

NEW CONTRACT – Katy ISD Superintendent Alton Frailey’s new contract shows he is to receive an annual base salary of $288,400 plus a host of benefits.

The new agreement, which was approved by the school board at its Jan. 24 meeting but not signed until Feb. 3, is for a five-year term beginning July 1, 2010 and running through June 30, 2015. The contract year runs July 1 – June 30.

The contract calls for Frailey to receive an annual base salary of $288,400.

In addition to the base salary, Frailey will receive $1,300 per month to cover “costs of all reasonable and necessary travel expenses within the district, and the reasonable and necessary costs of telecommunication access such as mobile phone service, a telephone line and Internet access.” Frailey’s auto travel outside the district will be reimbursed at the “approved federal rate of reimbursement.”

Also, the contract calls for the district to reimburse Frailey for “reasonable costs of meals and incidental expenses associated with the superintendent’s work with staff members, board embers, community members or other persons related to the performance of his duties as superintendent.”

The agreement also calls for the district to pay insurance premiums for “hospitalization, major medical and dental insurance coverage for the superintendent and his dependents pursuant to the group health care plan provided by the district.” The district also pays for short- and long-term disability coverage for Frailey, as well as a term life insurance policy in the amount of $500,000.

One provision of the contract also obligates the school district to provide a “personal protection benefit” to Frailey.

“The district shall, at its expense, provide to the superintendent such personal protection as the board may deem necessary,” the contract reads. “In the event the life or safety of the superintendent or the superintendent’s family is threatened or otherwise appears in danger due to the performance by the superintendent of his professional duties, the district shall pay the reasonable and necessary costs incident to the protection of the superintendent and the superintendent’s family, provided, however, that such protection will initially be sought from the police and/or sheriff’s department of the appropriate governmental authority having jurisdiction in the district.”

Another key provision of the contract gives Frailey full authority for the handling of all “substantive” complaints about the district and its employees. The only exceptions are complaints about the superintendent or board members.

“The board, individually and collectively, shall refer all substantive complaints from staff and/or third parties to the superintendent for review and appropriate action. The superintendent will investigate such matters and inform the board of the results of such action. Substantive complaints include allegations of possible wrongdoing by staff and/or students, complaints of possible criminal behavior by staff and/or students and complaints about personnel which, if true, would require action by the superintendent and/or administration,” the contact notes. “The board retains the right to investigate complaints about the superintendent. The superintendent shall refer all substantive complaints from staff and/or third parties regarding a board member to the board president for review and action. If the complaint is about the board president, the superintendent shall refer the complaint to the next most senior non-implicated board officer or, if necessary, board member.”

The contract can be read in its entirety at http://www.katyisd.org/scd/Contract.pdf.

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13 Comments

Just Wondering2FEBRUARY 16, 2011 AT 2:39 PM

Just a few quick questions.

1. What is the difference in this contract’s base pay vs. the previous?

2. How much are we paying for his insurance vs. the ZERO the district pays towards the insurance of teachers and staff?

3. How much money does he chew through on the “meals” item? I know people with expense reports who have no problem taking the entire family on an “official function” and charging the company (us).

4. Are the “other expenses” in addition to the $1,300/month?

What is the total cost of his contract; tax, title, and license?

If Alton comes to the board and requests a salary freeze for other employees due to budget is there any provision for freezing him at current wages and expenses?

What is this personal protection crap and is this standard fare for superintendent contracts, or something special for our guy?

westsidebillFEBRUARY 16, 2011 AT 8:47 PM

JW2:

Stop asking such jaded questions, especially if you’re not running for the school board. Can’t you just celebrate Frailey’s personal/professional achievement and all he has done for the district? Why can’t you let the district shine for just a day without criticism and questioning? Can YOU name 10 other school districts ANYWHERE that offer the type of compenstation and benefits package that KISD offers not only Alton but his relatives as well? (I didn’t think so!)

Mary McGarrFEBRUARY 17, 2011 AT 8:06 AM

Tell us about the “relatives.”

I wasn’t aware that there was any of that going on.

There is a “nepotism clause” in the Superintendent’s contract that says the District cannot hire any individual related to the Superintendent within the third degree of consanguinity. (The contract even defines the word consanguinity in case the superintendent or the Board members don’t know what that means.)

That includes:

• Spouse – Children – Parents (first degree)

• Brothers/Sisters – Half-Brothers/Half-Sisters – Grandchildren – Grandparents (second degree)

• Uncles/Aunts – Nephews/Nieces – Great-Grandparents – Great-Grandchildren (third degree)

Originally, only the spouse was covered under this clause, as the Board didn’t think it wise for him/her to be employed in the District. However, things being what they are, if one has a spouse in need of work, nearby school districts will hire our “spouse” if we hire theirs.

In my opinion, no relative, within these degrees, of a superintendent or sitting board member, previously hired or not, should be allowed as that situation just causes too many problems. One cannot be impartial in decision making if the decision affects one’s relative(s). An administrator cannot be impartial in how the relative/employee is treated within the workplace.

westsidebillFEBRUARY 17, 2011 AT 8:38 AM

I just meant the fact we taxpayers are paying for his family’s healthcare, life insurance, local transportation (the guy’s not exactly driving an Insight around town on his allowance!), and travel expenses to “official” functions (I am 100% doubtful that he’s never taken his family along to conference and passed on their expenses to us as well – and the BOT rubber-stamped them as “reasonable” without even looking at them!).

The biggest joke is the security issue. The sits in that Castle, rarely leaves except for photo ops, and travels mostly on “official” business. Please explain how “necessary” extra security may become. You already have to go through about four layers of “buffer – yes men” to even talk to him now – how much secure does he need to be?

Jim CannonFEBRUARY 16, 2011 AT 4:37 PM

State and local governments all around the USA are experiencing overpaid public employees, this is another example of the abuse of the public purse. That $288K when topped with about 40% in fringes amounts to almost $400K. Want to know a secret? All other Katy ISD salaries will be set as a percent of the boss’s salary. If he gets a raise, then everyone below him will get a raise (even if it takes a year or two). There are capable people who would take this job in a heartbeat for $200K. Katy ISD is an overrated school district with a serious lack of intellectual traditions that are filtered down from the state government. There is nothing new and exciting that promises to elevate KISD to new heights. This is just throwing tax money at another ho-hum school district. Go ahead Katy citizens, you will see the cost of this adventure in next years tax levy. Apologies to Taylor HS, an exception to most of Katy’s institutions.

KatyResidentFEBRUARY 16, 2011 AT 7:42 PM

i am fine with the personal protection clause. With as many nuts out there and one of them may be “Just Wondering”, i would be worried about one of them becoming violent.

Mary McGarrFEBRUARY 17, 2011 AT 8:33 AM

How rude of you to suggest that Just Wondering might need police monitoring! You’re obviously one of those people who hasn’t learned yet about “free speech” and that one can exercise that right without being a “nut.” And you might be very surprised at whom you’ve just called a “nut.”

I’m guessing (and let ME be rude) that you’re probably thought of as a “nut” by some of your acquaintance.

As a former board member, I will allow that there are situations where parents are irate about the treatment of their children, and they can be overwhelmed to the point of acting in ways that aren’t acceptable. Having KISD police at public meetings is probably a wise thing to do. I don’t mind when they stand behind me at a board meeting (and yes, they do that) as they are sworn to protect me as well as the board.

My solution to the presence of irate parents is to deal with issues so that situations don’t rise to such levels.

I don’t personally know anyone who voices opposition to representatives of public schools that would become violent over an issue. However it’s said that people often erroneously suspect others of what they themselves actually have in mind, and if that’s the case, perhaps some of us need protecting too!

Mary McGarrFEBRUARY 16, 2011 AT 8:02 PM

Ah, another opportunity to express my frequently made comment on superintendent’s salaries.

I am of the opinion that superintendent’s salaries should be tied to the governor’s salary, i.e., none of them should make any more than he does.

Superintendents certainly don’t do as much work, and they also don’t have as much responsibility.

Minnesota had (and may still have) this law, and when they passed it, superintendents there fled to greener pastures.

A greener pasture is where I’d like to see Mr. Frailey.

And yes, I think the Board is giving him too much money for what he does–especially when he won’t bother to get his educational doctorate and when he didn’t have a superintendent’s certificate when he arrived.

I suppose he was hired to pass a bond, and so far that’s about all he’s shown us that he can do.

just thinkingFEBRUARY 21, 2011 AT 10:31 PM

How dare they? How dare they pass this pay increase for Frailey when Katy ISD is currently under a hiring freeze. We have been told that if a teacher quits- we’re not replacing them. Our classes sizes are going up and the demands on teachers are going up, and our pay is either staying where it was this year OR my favorite, they are going to ask us to work a few days without pay next year.

If they can’t pay their teachers, take care of their schools and keep class sizes low so we can KEEP being a quality district, how dare they give Frailey a raise and bonuses equalling over $400,000 a year! School Board members, this does NOT look good for you. I am ashamed of you for voting for this. During these tough economic times, where people are worried about keeping their job, how can we paying that much? As a teacher of Katy ISD, I’m shocked and saddened by this article. Not very responsible.

Just thinking Out Loud

Ross RaymondFEBRUARY 22, 2011 AT 3:23 PM

Just thinking, your comments seem reasonable at first glance, and when I looked again, they still were.

The school board functions in a manner IT sees fit. This past year a sitting board member made it very clear the BOT (Board of Trustees) is NOT a representative body. They act as trustees. I am a poor country boy and the distinction is lost on me as they campaign for the job every three years and some of them have been working really hard to keep those non-paying positions.

Given you identify yourself as a KISD teacher maybe you can tell me why it is teachers do NOT vote in BOT elections each May? From my own personal survey I find it is a rare teacher who made his or her way to the ballot box. There are three of the seven slots in play this May and at present the filing season is open for anyone who wants to serve. It costs nothing to file or run, which matches the pay.

Thank you for your service and all you do everyday to help all our Katy Kids.

Just Wondering2FEBRUARY 24, 2011 AT 7:37 AM

Cinco Dad how many votes can you round up and GET to the polls? I can do about 70 if I push and pull them along.

I am also willing to donate cash to a candidate who will bring some common sense back into the system, maybe $500.

If others are willing to step up and do the same, I feel we can get some action for sure. Now we need a candidate or two. I can’t run for personal and business reasons, but will support someone who can and will run.

John, how about setting up a forum so that incumbents and challengers can come and tell us why they are entering the race and make an appeal to us for money and votes BEFORE the filing deadline has closed???? Maybe we can give someone the push they need to win this time around?

Give us a heads up of sorts.