Barely three years ago, the Flagler County School Board hired Cathy Mittelstadt as its superintendent on a base salary of $135,000. The next superintendent may earn as much as $200,000–a 48 percent jump from where Mittelstadt started–according to the salary range the school board penciled in at a workshop today.
The original salary range the board had discussed was from $165,000 to $215,000. The range had been proposed by the Florida School Board Association, whose consultants are again helping the Flagler school board navigate its latest superintendent search, as the association did three years ago.
It took some discussion before it scaled that back to $200,000. If Flagler County were to elect its superintendent, as several counties in the state do, it would be constitutionally limited to a salary of $107,000. Polk County, one of the largest districts in the nation, pays its superintendent $139,000.
According to the Florida Department of Education’s current figures (for the 2022-23 school year) the average salary for a superintendent in Florida is $173,000. The board members discussed salaries without that perspective–without the Education Department’s spreadsheet in front of them, though it was readily accessible.
“215 is mind-blowing to me,” Board member Colleen Conklin said. “165 to 195, tops, holy crap.”
Board member Sally Hunt seemed to see something mystically haloed but unexplained in the higher figure. “215 to me would be somebody who I as one board member could trust, that they would come in here as far as operational efficiency, creativity in terms of thinking about how we retain more [student enrollment] dollars,” Hunt said, “like, literally in the long run, they are saving us so much money that they have paid for their salary and then some. To me, that’s not any candidate who would get 215, it would be an exceptional candidate.”
It wasn’t clear how a superintendent making $215,000 as opposed to $195,000, or $175,000, would gain more trust from the board member, or how the higher salary would translate into more enrollment for the district. The superintendent in St., Johns County–consistently and by far the best-rated school district in the state year after year–is earning $174,000, according to the Department of Education. St. Johns County has been overrun with surging enrollment year after year.
For the district’s size and the job in play, Conklin said, “215 is out of whack.”
Hunt insisted. She then revealed to what extent she puts stock in executive leadership, perhaps unaware that she was telegraphing a different message to the rank and file: “This is a priority to me. Our leader is everything for this organization. So if we need to find dollars somewhere, it’s for its for this position,” she said–words that may come back to haunt the district at the next collective bargaining session with teachers and service employees.
Hunt said $215,000 wouldn’t be set in stone, and the district could end up with someone making $170,000. But she said the maximum should be set that high. It is extremely rare that top executives in government are higher end within a certain range, only to settle for the lower end.
Mittelstadt ended her three-year tenure–or rather, her tenure was ended for her by Hunt and fellow-Board members Will Furry and Christy Chong–closer to a base salary of $145,000. The board began discussing the salary of its next superintendent with a higher floor of $165,000. School Board Chair Cheryl Massaro described a top end of $200,000 as “a nice figure” that would attract a person already serving as a superintendent or as an assistant superintendent (as was the case with both of th district’s previous superintendents: Jim Tager and Mittelstadt had each been assistant superintendents, one in Volusia, the other in St. Johns.)
Almost as an afterthought, she noted: “Remember, we have a small school system, as opposed to the biggies that are over 300,000.”
Enrollment in Flagler schools proper has been below 13,000 students for the last decade and a half, and is currently over that threshold only when enrollment at Imagine, the charter school, is included.
It looked as if the board agreed to the $165,000 to $200,000 range, with nods from every board member–with Hunt’s exception. Despite being a minority of one by then, she returned to the charge. “I guess I misunderstood the process. So I would ask that this is not locked in at this moment,” she said.
It will be voted in at the board’s next meeting the third week of August. But Kristy Gavin, the board attorney, told board members they may still contribute further wording for the superintendent’s job description. It would again be discussed at the Aug. 15 afternoon workshop before it’s voted on at that evening’s meeting. Gavin would post the potential changes for public viewing before that weekend, on the district’s website.
Gavin had, in fact, requested that board members send in their suggestions before today’s meetings. None did. The final job description is necessary because the next step in the search timeline is publishing the ad for the job, including the job description. The job description Gavin prepared is aligned with what the Florida School Board Association sees in other district, and with Florida law.
Hunt wanted to change the job title to Chief Executive Officer and Superintendent, not just Superintendent. The reference to a CEO is in the job description already (“The Superintendent shall be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the District as described by School Board policy and Florida law.”) Hunt wanted the words repeated in the title.
“In a lot of cases, executives do have two titles,” Hunt said. “They might be a regional senior manager and senior vice president. And so again, I think setting that tone of the expectation is that this person is not only superintendent of schools, but they are expected to be the chief executive officer of an organization, the largest employer in the county.”
Board members did not object.
Herbert Thompson says
These salaries are astronomical but the condition of these schools are deplorable…. Roaches and rats, bugs and other unsanitary creatures and elements traveling and breading behind the ealls in the cafeteria and all throughout the flagler county schools….. My wife works at Rymfire. … they were cleaning today and while doing so a swarm of roaches and palmetto bugs came out of the cabinet and walls. The younger employees were screaming and running for their lives. She went to the store and brought spray and combat….These schools have to be exterminated!¡!
Deirdre says
You couldn’t pay any superintendent enough money to deal with the crazy that goes with this school board.
It would be torture at any price, so paying more won’t fix what’s wrong on the school board.
Whoever fills the position would need to care more about the students, faculty and staff than their salary anyway.
Purveyor of Truth says
From the content of these discussions, you’d think we were reading about the deliberations of junior high student government.
If the much larger Polk County can find a superintendent for $139k, certainly an earnest search by Flagler can find a qualified candidate. End the false belief that throwing money at things will bring superior results. Our education system is emblematic that that is not the case.
Greg says
Money to burn. You’re out of your mind.
David Gardner says
Outrageous.
Flatsflyer says
Some School Board members need a mental health checkup. Initial salary should be less than the previous superintendent. Then review and make appropriate adjustment. The way then now handle salaries is too increase it and the fire the new superintendent without cause within contract terms. Repeat with each new hire, fire and then repeat.
Marcus Aurelius Jr. says
Thank you,
Will Furry, Sally Hunt and Christy Chong for costing the taxpayers “mo” money with you out of control school board antics.
You people are the worst elected officials Flagler County Schools have ever seen.
Can’t wait to vote you all out.
Shark says
Did anyone ever hear of merit raises ?????
Ed says
If money is 4 th on the list of 5 reasons for quitting a job, it probably isn’t the top motivating factor for employment either.
Setting an environment where a peak performer can flourish and actually accomplish goals and make a difference would probably be more important. A challenge or opportunity.
The education field has never used measurable results to signify success. Every other profession does. My point is why not set a lower base with strong incentives and then keep the board out of the way.
Edith Campins says
Once again Hunt demonstrates how out of touch with reality she is. After orchestrating the former superintendent ‘s exit, which resuted in a costly search, all at the expense of the taxpayers, she now wants to increase the salary of the new one by an insane amount. She fail sto realize that , we, the taxpayers, will be the ones paying for her largesse. And then the sillyness with the tittle, did we make a mistake with her! Let’s make sure she never gets elected again. P. S, I wonder who she has in mind for the job.
Dennis C Rathsam says
Have you people gone crazy? Where do you expect to get the money for his position? This city, and the people that run it have all lost thier minds. Everyone wants more money in the budget, everyone seems to have an agenda, to rip off the good people of Palm Coast. Which one of our ellected polititions will have the balls to say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH? And put a stop to this tax & spend ideology? A lot of citezens are on fixed incomes, we must live with in our means. If we have to live without it…. so be it. Its called fiscal responsability. Something our ellected officials know nothing about. The mayor & council members, are all in great finacial shape. Why should they care about us retirees, and the working poor. Time & time again this city wastes money on projects people dont want, & projects that failed due to the stupitity of our leaders. Palm Coast,s best days are in our rear view mirror now. What used to be a small great city has now reared its ugly head, and forcing folks to leave. We are witnessing the killing of P/C! We watched the bears, the deer, the panthers,& rabbits disapear due to the fools in city hall, now they want the samething to happen to the elderly.
The dude says
My youngest came home from her first day at her new school yesterday.
She was as excited as I’ve ever seen her about her school.
I do sort of mourn the loss of the life we were building in central FL, in spite of the area’s batshit crazy politics at every level… but seeing my daughter back in a school system that actually cares about the kids and seeing her excited about school again makes the move worthwhile.
In the meantime it kind of feels like the Flagler County School Board MAGA cohort has already selected their superintendent candidate, and is now turning over the couch cushions looking for spare change to pay for their preferred stooge. That’s just how politics in Flagler roll.
Charles says
Call the Flagler County Health Department and report this.
John says
48 per cent inscrease this is outrageous.
TR says
Complaining on here will not change anything, just like with any council. We the People need to go to the meetings and voice our voices. These people in our government are out of control and they need to be stopped by any means possible. Don’t know if the school board members are the same as the council members where people don’t have to wait to vote them out, the people can go after their security bond and have them removed. However, it’s the same thing over and over, the guy next door (so to speak) says that the next guy will handle it because he doesn’t want to get off his computer and actually do something. Hense the reason we we have all these government officials getting a huge salary and not doing what they swore to do.
Pogo says
@The dude
Thanks for sharing your good news.
And for being the most insightful commenter on this report. Bullseye.
What Else Is New says
Yes, we made a huge mistake! After speaking at length with Sally Hunt, as well as hearing the Flagler County Democratic Party was hoping to back her, I asked my neighbors to vote for Hunt. What a mistake!! She turned on us and did it conspiratorially. Hunt is not to be trusted, she aligns herself with Furry and Chong and we are forced to deal with that evil bunch until we can vote them out of office. They, like Ron DeSlanted are in line to eradicate public education and move to unregulated private entities.
JustBeNice says
I hope you strongly consider our current superintendent! She’s been in the county for a long time and knows the inner workings. She’s also building a rapport with the board. Ms. Moore is more than deserving.
KMedley says
The Tragic Three orchestrate the death of the Flagler Youth Orchestra, literally the epitome of success on a shoestring budget, by nitpicking how revenue and expenses were entered on an accounting journal; then, they drive out a successful superintendent, and now, according to I can’t do my job, Hunt, “Our leader is everything for this organization”, yet, she, Furry and Chong revel in their abilities to drive out exceptional leaders, those who have a proven track record. Oh My God, Flagler, vote out The Tragic Three!
James says
@dude Yup, you’re spot on dude.
Moe says
100% Agree. Why go out of county when Ms.Moore is the one for the job. My grandchildren are not political pawns.They are chidren.
TR says
Yea I remember something about that when I was a lot younger. Hell, that’s how I got all my raises. But today it’s all about the saying “can’t delight them with brilliance, then baffle them with Bulls**t.
The Truth Told says
An astounding 48% increase…meanwhile, teachers are provided a less than 1% increase with inflation running rampant.
DO BETTER.
Jack Radcliffe says
And now i see the mentality behind why teachers here are paid so little.
Then you all complain about having no teachers.
You cannot have it both ways.
Counties like Palm Beach voted unanimously to raise teacher salaries across the board.
But you folks are stuck in this archaic mentality that educators do not deserve the money they are earning.
Sad.
Jack Radcliffe says
If that.
And god forbid they ask to be compensated for their out of state years of experience.