ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, July 3, 1996 TAG: 9607030040
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
THIS WEEK'S salary increases for the Roanoke and Roanoke County school superintendents equal their faculties' average raises by percentage.
Roanoke Superintendent Wayne Harris and Roanoke County Superintendent Deanna Gordon will receive the same average pay raises as teachers in their systems.
Harris received a 7percent salary increase for the new fiscal year, which began Monday, boosting his pay to $111,376.
The salary scale for Roanoke teachers was increased by 6percent by the School Board, but the average raise will be 7percent because some teachers are eligible for step increases.
Gordon received a 5percent raise, as did teachers and other school employees in Roanoke County. Her salary will increase to $99,036.
School board members in both localities cited the average raises for teachers as the rationale for the size of the increases for the superintendents.
Salem Superintendent Wayne Tripp's salary was $87,615 this past school year. The Salem School Board will consider a raise for him this month. If Tripp receives a 5percent increase, as approved for Salem teachers and other school employees, his salary will be $91,995.
Harris' pay has increased by $16,376, or 17.2 percent, since he became Roanoke's superintendent three years ago. He was hired at a salary of $95,000 and received raises during his first two years.
Gordon's salary has increased by $9,036, or 10percent, since she became Roanoke County's school chief two years ago. She was hired at $90,000.
The salaries for Harris and Gordon remain below those for superintendents in several larger school divisions in Virginia.
Fairfax County, the largest school division in the state, paid its superintendent $134,000 this past year. Harris was an area superintendent in Fairfax County, with an $89,000 salary, when he accepted the Roanoke job.
Norfolk's salary for its superintendent was $125,000 this past year; Virginia Beach, $120,000; Henrico County, $120,988; and Chesterfield County, $118,212.
The enrollments in these localities are substantially larger than Roanoke's, which has 13,200 students, and Roanoke County's, with 13,750 students.
Fairfax County has 135,000 students; Norfolk, 36,000; Virginia Beach, 75,000; Henrico County, 38,000; and Chesterfield County, 48,000.
Some of the localities have approved raises for their superintendents for next year. The salary in Henrico County has been increased to $131,917, and the pay in Norfolk will be $129,062.
Chesterfield County will pay its new superintendent, William Bosher, $135,000. Bosher recently resigned as state superintendent of public instruction to accept the Chesterfield post, which became vacant because of a retirement.
Harris' salary was higher this past year than Richmond's superintendent's, although Richmond has about twice as many students as Roanoke.
Richmond's superintendent was paid $100,000, but the School Board has not set the salary there for next year.
Fringe benefits for superintendents vary widely. Some receive annuities, the use of a car or other benefits.
The average salary for school superintendents in the nation was $90,198 in 1994-95, the last year for which statistics are available.
The state Department of Education does not collect information on superintendents' salaries and has no data on the average pay in the state.
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshots) Gordon, Harris.by CNB