The Duluth School Board has unanimously approved a three-year contract with the district's new superintendent.
John Magas will start July 1 at an annual salary of $187,500, with 2% increases slated for his second and third years. Magas was picked last month to replace outgoing Superintendent Bill Gronseth, but Tuesday's contract approval finalizes the selection.
“John’s professional experience, especially in the areas of equity and continuous improvement, will serve our Duluth community well,” Board Chair Jill Lofald said in a statement. “He’s clearly passionate and enthusiastic and we look forward to working with him as we move our schools into the future.”
Magas' salary is a bump up from that of Gronseth, who is earning $174,800 in the third and final year of his contract. Gronseth will soon take over as superintendent in St. Peter, Minn., after eight years on the job in Duluth.
Magas is currently associate superintendent of continuous improvement for the Green Bay Area School District in Wisconsin.
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“I’m both humbled and honored at being chosen to serve as superintendent,” he said in a statement. “As I get to know about Duluth it’s clear this is a community that values education. That’s exciting. I look forward to working with staff, families and citizens, learning about the strengths and challenges we face and creating a path forward together to benefit all students.”
