New Dexter schools top official could earn $39K more than former superintendent

• Previous coverage: Contract negotiations underway for new Dexter schools superintendent

The Dexter Community Schools Board of Education late last month approved a three-year contract with its new superintendent that could allow him to earn up to $169,000. That's a $39,000 pay bump from former Superintendent Mary Marshall's salary.

Marshall left Dexter schools in December to take a position as superintendent of Pentwater Public Schools on the west side of the state. Since then, Dexter has been engaged in a search to find a new superintendent.

The board voted on June 12 to hire Christopher Timmis, the superintendent of Adrian Public Schools, as the district's next leader. Timmis will start with Dexter schools on Aug. 19.

School board President Larry Cobler told AnnArbor.com that Timmis' contract was ratified unanimously by the board during a special meeting on June 28.

Timmis' base pay was set at $140,000. Marshall's base salary was $130,000.

Cobler said among the reasons for the increase was that Marshall had no previous experience as superintendent prior to being hired, whereas Timmis has been the superintendent of Adrian for five years.

In addition, Timmis will receive an extra $10,000 on top of his base pay for each fiscal year of his contract for an "education stipend" in recognition of his doctoral degree.

Cobler said Marshall did not have a doctoral degree. The board felt it was appropriate to reward Timmis for having his doctorate, similar to how teachers with a master's and doctoral degrees receive more pay than their bachelor's degree-holding colleagues.

Lastly, the Board of Education approved three opportunities for Timmis to earn performance-based incentives. The contract allows Timmis to receive a $3,000 bonus for accomplishing each of the following goals:

• Completion and board adoption of a district strategic plan.
• Creation of an action plan designed to improve district mathematics scores.
• Creation of an action plan designed to generate additional revenue for the district.

Cobler said the board will create new goals with incentives attached each year, giving Timmis the opportunity to earn additional pay. Those are the goals for the 2013-14 academic year, Cobler said.

Cobler described Timmis' benefits and insurance package as being the same as other district administrators. He said there are no benefits tied to cellphone coverage or travel, outside of the typical mileage reimbursements.

According to the district's most recent salary and compensation report, in addition to a $130,000 base salary, Marshall received $14,295 in health care coverage, $32,500 in pension costs and $7,000 in supplemental pay. At Adrian, Timmis earned a salary of $115,000 in 2011, along with a travel stipend of $6,000, a pension of $28,367 and $11,138.04 in health care coverage.

Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.