School Board Approves $185K Contract with New Superintendent

Thursday night, the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District sealed the deal with its newly-chosen superintendent, Joe Gothard.

The Board of Education approved unanimously approved a three-year contract with Gothard which will take effect on July 1, 2013. The contract provides Gothard with an initial base salary of $185,000. Gothard's salary will step up to $186,800 during the second year of the contract, then $188,600 during the third.

The contract also includes an extensive benefits package. Here are some of the highlights:

• Gothard will have 28 vacation days per year (in addition to paid holidays)
• He will be granted 12 days of sick leave per year
• He will have full insurance coverage—medical, dental and term life. 
• He is eligible $2,500 in tuition reimbursement should he pursue post-graduate coursework that is pertinent to his work with the district. 
• The district will pay Gothard a monthly allowance of $400 for business use of his car. 
• The district will pay (or reimburse) Gothard for "valid, reasonable, and necessary expenses" associated with travel to attend conferences and meetings.
• Lastly, the district will reimburse Gothard for up to $12,935 in moving expenses. 

However, the contract also gives the Board a certain amount of leverage over the incoming superintendent. The Board may evaluate Gothard's performance "of its own initiative" whenever its sees fit. They may also terminate the contract in th event of negligence, unbecoming conduct and other grounds outlined by state statute.

The contract also includes a proviso that Gothard must disclose "the existence and terms of any buyout agreement, including amounts and purpose...relating to his contract with another school board." Failure to disclose the existence of a buyout agreement will render the contract with Burnsville-Eagan-Savage void.

Gothard is currently an assistant superintendent in Madison, WI. He was chosen by the Board in the second week of April after a lengthy search. He replaces current Superintendent Randy Clegg. Gothard will take the reins this summer.

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