SEATTLE — On Tuesday, the Seattle Public Schools board voted to approve the superintendent's contract renewal, raise included, as the district also grapples with a plan to close schools to solve a nearly $100 million budget deficit.
Parents have expressed concern about the district's top brass receiving a pay raise while SPS works to make drastic changes to close the deficit. A largely unpopular plan to close up to 21 schools was put on pause. The district announced a new plan Tuesday to consolidate five schools instead.
Parents have also reached out to KING 5, upset that they will not be able to provide comment at Tuesday's meeting. Parents could either watch a live stream or observe the meeting remotely in the auditorium.
The salary increase for SPS Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones is around $25,000, which would bring his overall salary to $390,940 - a 6.7% increase.
However, Jones isn't the highest paid superintendent that the state has had in recent years. As of the 2022-23 school year, which was the most recent data available, superintendents who made more money include Jon Holmen of the Lake Washington School District ($474,125 salary) and Damien Pattenaude of the Renton School District ($417,688 salary).
Several other top-paid school officials in the 2022-23 school year have since left their positions.
"I think it was particularly tone deaf," said Brendan Levy, a parent with a student at McGilvra Elementary.
Even Jake Milstein, whose student's school is no longer on the chopping block, questioned the timing of the vote.
"And timing is everything, and so I think the board meeting about the raise just happened at the wrong time," said Milstein.
Proponents for Jones’ raise and renewed contract said it’s important for leadership stability, considering the history of high turnover that comes with the position.
A school board document said avoiding turnover in the superintendent position is key to stability in the district. There have been several superintendents at SPS over the past 30 years. The school board believes students will benefit from the continued leadership of Jones, who has shown "commitment to our students and city."
Correction: A previous version of this story misstated who was the highest-paid school official in Washington state.