Duluth School Board mulls superintendent contract renewal, pay raise

  The proposed three-year contract renewal for Duluth schools Superintendent Bill Gronseth calls for small increases in each of the three years. Gronseth's base pay - which hasn't changed since he was chosen for the position in 2012 - is $168,000. The contract calls for increases of 2 percent the first year and 1 percent in each of the following years. He would be making about $174,800 in the third year of the proposed contract.
The Duluth School Board has been asked to vote on the contract next week, although it expires June 30. Some board members at a Monday human resources committee meeting wondered why it was coming to them several months before expiration, and before an evaluation of his performance had been completed by them. Human resources director Tim Sworsky said it wasn't unusual to renew a superintendent contract this far in advance. The board has a Nov. 1 deadline to tell Gronseth whether they intend to do so, which is written into his current contract. Art Johnston and Alanna Oswald thought the increase was too much. Johnston proposed tabling the contract vote until the entire board holds a different meeting to negotiate terms. Nora Sandstad and Harry Welty supported the increase. Sandstad didn't have a problem voting on a new contract this early, she said, but she wanted to complete the evaluation first. Welty agreed. "We are all preparing to do an evaluation of the superintendent, and this presumes that the evaluation will be a good evaluation," he said. Oswald said she was concerned about Gronseth seeking employment elsewhere. He was a finalist last spring for the top position in two other school districts, and another the year prior. Gronseth, 47, said he had no plans to apply elsewhere. Going through the job-seeking process, he said, "showed me what I had in Duluth." The national average for the tenure of a superintendent is five to six years, according to the American Association of School Administrators. Sworsky said the district would be discussing similar pay increases for unions with upcoming contract negotiations, including teachers. When the School Board in 2011 approved the three-year contract for I.V. Foster, who preceded Gronseth, his base pay was nearly $174,000 with 1 percent raises each in years two and three. He left with a separation agreement after six months when he failed to obtain a Minnesota license required to do the job. The five board members at the meeting indicated they were willing to offer Gronseth a new contract. Annie Harala and Rosie Loeffler-Kemp were absent. While the resolution to vote on the contract will be on Tuesday's board agenda, it is likely a motion will be made to table it. Gronseth, a Duluth native, was formerly assistant superintendent for the district. He has also taught and served as a principal. The proposed three-year contract renewal for Duluth schools Superintendent Bill Gronseth calls for small increases in each of the three years.Gronseth's base pay - which hasn't changed since he was chosen for the position in 2012 - is $168,000. The contract calls for increases of 2 percent the first year and 1 percent in each of the following years. He would be making about $174,800 in the third year of the proposed contract.
The Duluth School Board has been asked to vote on the contract next week, although it expires June 30. Some board members at a Monday human resources committee meeting wondered why it was coming to them several months before expiration, and before an evaluation of his performance had been completed by them.Human resources director Tim Sworsky said it wasn't unusual to renew a superintendent contract this far in advance. The board has a Nov. 1 deadline to tell Gronseth whether they intend to do so, which is written into his current contract.Art Johnston and Alanna Oswald thought the increase was too much. Johnston proposed tabling the contract vote until the entire board holds a different meeting to negotiate terms.Nora Sandstad and Harry Welty supported the increase. Sandstad didn't have a problem voting on a new contract this early, she said, but she wanted to complete the evaluation first.Welty agreed."We are all preparing to do an evaluation of the superintendent, and this presumes that the evaluation will be a good evaluation," he said.Oswald said she was concerned about Gronseth seeking employment elsewhere. He was a finalist last spring for the top position in two other school districts, and another the year prior.Gronseth, 47, said he had no plans to apply elsewhere.Going through the job-seeking process, he said, "showed me what I had in Duluth."The national average for the tenure of a superintendent is five to six years, according to the American Association of School Administrators.Sworsky said the district would be discussing similar pay increases for unions with upcoming contract negotiations, including teachers.When the School Board in 2011 approved the three-year contract for I.V. Foster, who preceded Gronseth, his base pay was nearly $174,000 with 1 percent raises each in years two and three. He left with a separation agreement after six months when he failed to obtain a Minnesota license required to do the job.The five board members at the meeting indicated they were willing to offer Gronseth a new contract. Annie Harala and Rosie Loeffler-Kemp were absent.While the resolution to vote on the contract will be on Tuesday's board agenda, it is likely a motion will be made to table it.Gronseth, a Duluth native, was formerly assistant superintendent for the district. He has also taught and served as a principal.