Schools

LEUSD Superintendent Wage 30 Percent Higher Than State Average

"Our superintendent salary is neither higher nor lower," said Mark Dennis, LEUSD coordinator of community and media relations. "When looking at the state numbers, it's important to remember that many of the districts are much smaller than we are."

Lake Elsinore Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Frank Passarella earns a higher wage than the average California school superintendent, according to recently released state figures.

Across California, the average superintendent salary was $158,622 in 2010, according to new state figures compiled by the Sacramento Bee.

Dr. Passarella’s wage in 2010 was $205,782 -- 30 percent higher than the state average, according to the figures.

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The district’s teachers also earn more on average than their state counterparts, but the gap is not nearly as wide.

In California, the average teacher salary during 2010 was $67,932, according to the figures.

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The LEUSD average teacher salary was $69,785 for 2010 – just 2.7 percent higher than the state average teacher pay, according to the figures.

Locally, district teachers did see an average increase over 2009 wages. According to the figures, LEUSD teachers on average earned $67,348 in 2009, but the wage is offset by layoffs: In 2009, the district had 1,005 full-time teachers compared to 963 in 2010.

The LEUSD superintendent salary remained unchanged from 2009.

LEUSD Coordinator of Community and Media Relations Mark Dennis cautioned that the wages should be considered in the context of surrounding K-12 districts that are similar in terms of student population.

“Our superintendent salary is neither higher nor lower. We are a larger district,” Dennis said. “When looking at the state numbers, it’s important to remember that many of the districts are much smaller than we are.”

The district’s average student attendance in 2010 was 20,835. Local districts with comparable 2010 average student attendance include Temecula Valley Unified 28,134; Hemet Unified 21,004; Murrieta Valley Unified 20,934; and Val Verde Unified 18,522.

The 2010 average teacher salary for these districts include: Temecula Valley Unified $72,185; Hemet Unified $67,928; Murrieta Valley Unified $74,775; and Val Verde Unified $66,474.

The 2010 superintendent salaries for these districts include: Temecula Valley Unified $193,339; Hemet Unified $253,149; Murrieta Valley Unified $185,000; and Val Verde Unified $201,400.

 A closer look at the LEUSD numbers:

 

District

LAKE ELSINORE UNIFIED

County

Riverside

Teacher FTEs, 2008

977

Teacher FTEs, 2009

1,005

Teacher FTEs, 2010

963

Teacher FTE Change, 2009-2010

-4.2%

Average Teacher Salary, 2008

$68,317

Average Teacher Salary, 2009

$67,348

Average Teacher Salary, 2010

$69,785

Teacher Salary Change, 2009-2010

3.6%

Highest Possible Teacher Salary

$89,763

Average Years Teaching

12.3

Total Teacher Payroll, 2009

$67,714,373

Total Teacher Payroll, 2010

$67,222,495

Change in Teacher Payroll, 2009-2010

-1%

Superintendent Pay, 2009

$205,782

Superintendent Pay, 2010

$205,782

Superintendent Pay Change, 2009-2010:

0.0%

Average Daily Student Attendance

20,835

Superintendent Pay per Student

$10

 


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