ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 15, 1997 TAG: 9701150052
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
Superintendent Wayne Harris will get a 5.9percent pay raise in July when he begins a new term as head of Roanoke schools.
Harris' salary will increase to $118,000 from his current pay of $111,376.
The School Board approved a new contract Tuesday night for Harris that will keep him in the superintendent's post until at least 2001.
Harris' salary was $95,000 when he was hired in 1993. It has increased by $16,376, or 17.2 percent, during the past four years.
Harris received a 7 percent raise this school year, the same as the average increase for teachers.
He has recommended an average salary increase of 4.1percent for teachers next year.
Chairwoman Marsha Ellison said Harris will not get another raise this spring when the board approves pay increases for teachers and administrators for next year. She said he will receive only the 5.9 percent raise that is part of the new contract.
"We felt he deserved this raise because of his accomplishments during his first four years as superintendent," Ellison said, adding that was the reason why it differed from the proposed raise for teachers.
Under the terms of the new contract, however, Harris' salary will be increased in subsequent years - beginning in 1998-99 - by the same percentage as the average pay raise for city teachers.
Harris' salary is lower than the pay for superintendents in several larger school systems in Virginia, including Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Chesterfield County, where the top educators receive more than $130,000.
Harris will also receive an annuity, or deferred compensation, of $11,858 during the first year of his new contract, and an amount equal to 10 percent of his salary beginning with the second year. In addition, he will get a $750 monthly car allowance and a $3,000 technology allowance during the first year.
Harris also received an annuity and car allowance during his first four years in the job.
Harris, a Salem native, has been superintendent since July 1, 1993, when he came from Fairfax County, where he was an area superintendent.
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