Bills would make superintendent compensation more transparent

The Education Committee heard testimony on two bills Feb. 5 that would require more transparency with regard to school superintendent contracts and compensation.

Under LB470, introduced by Norfolk Sen. Jim Scheer, a superintendent’s contract — including all current and future costs to the school district — must be publicly posted at least five days before it can be considered for approval by a school board. Scheer said citizens deserve to know the details of compensation packages offered to superintendents.

“It’s disingenuous to say a superintendent’s contract has been extended without providing any detail,” he said. “It may or may not make any difference, but the public should know what’s being spent.”

After approval of a superintendent’s contract, the bill would require the school board to file a copy of the contract and any amendments with the state Department of Education by Aug. 1. If a school board fails to meet this requirement, all state aid granted under the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act would be withheld until the school board is compliant. Additionally, the county treasurer would be directed to withhold all school money until the contract has been filed with the department.

Shawn Renner, representing Media of Nebraska, Inc., supported the bill, saying school board expenditures are a primary concern in many communities.

“As a general rule we promote transparency in government expenditures,” Renner said. “It will make the job of both broadcasters and newspaper reporters easier to accurately report what is happening with school boards.”

John Bonaiuto, representing the Nebraska Association of School Boards, opposed the bill, saying contract details should be made public only after a board has taken action on it.

“It’s not good state policy to ask a school board to start publishing contract information before the board has approved the contract,” Bonaiuto said. “If the voters and the community are unhappy with the actions of the board, they should exercise their authority at the next election.”

The committee also heard testimony on LB274, introduced by Omaha Sen. Jeremy Nordquist, which would require a school district to post a report detailing the salary and any fringe benefits contained in a superintendent’s contract within 30 days of school board approval of the contract.

Nordquist said transparency is important because superintendents are some of the highest paid public officials in most communities.

“It’s important that we promote transparency,” he said. “It will lead to increased accountability and greater deliberation by those approving compensation.”

Bonaiuto supported the bill, saying that a standardized form of reporting the information would be helpful to all involved.

“This is public information,” he said. “It should be presented in a way that’s easy to understand.”

State Department of Education representative Brian Halstead testified in a neutral capacity. He said the department does not object to the bill, but that it should provide a better definition of compensation.

“We have no opposition to providing transparency with regard to the compensation of any employee,” he said. “We do need more specific direction as to what compensation entails.”

No one testified in opposition to the bill.

The committee took no immediate action on either bill.