By Neale Gulley<br><a href="mailto:gulleyn@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Neale</a>
The Tonawanda News
May 07, 2008 01:55 am
—
Among retired school superintendents, former North Tonawanda chief John George is second to just one where pensions are concerned.
A list, compiled by the Long Island newspaper Newsday, quoted the city’s longtime school chief as making $205,809 per year in retirement, the second highest amount for a retired school superintendent in New York state.
First is James Hunderfund, 65, who retired from the Commack district in Long Island in 2006 and now collects $316,245 per year.
The story published Monday takes a look at the top 10 most valuable retirement funds collected by former school superintendents throughout the state.
The average of the top 10 figures is $205,443 — George makes about $400 more than that annually.
George held the district’s top position for 17 years. Before that, he was assistant superintendent for three years.
“I was with the district for 17 years and felt that I did a good job with what I was doing and didn’t take a lot of leave time,” he said. “That certainly could be a factor.”
He acknowledged the sum is a lot when the local cost of living is considered, but he said pensions of that size are becoming fairly standard these days.
“I think it’s at the point for superintendents where that’s probably becoming the benchmark,” George said. “It’s a tough job and a lot of people don’t want to do it.”
Members of the North Tonawanda School Board have taken notice of high salaries across the upper-management spectrum and certain members, including David Guido, an incumbent board member who is running in this year’s election. Guido said the board is working to keep a lid on such expenditures in the future.
“It certainly is a high figure,” Guido said.
He cited George’s longevity in the role as a possible factor in his unusually high pay.
“From what I understand, a typical superintendent will last five years,” Guido said. “The current board has recognized that that is a lot of money and we’re trying to take steps to ensure that it doesn’t get to that point again.”
The Newsday report states that five of the top 10 earners are working in Long Island school districts.
Pensions are calculated by averaging a public employee’s final three years of compensation. A 2006 audit done by the Tonawanda News of school superintendent salaries throughout the region found George was the highest paid in Niagara County — and the longest tenured. He retired making $172,492 in base salary.
His pension is larger than that because benefits, such as sick and vacation buyback and other monetary supplements for benefits a superintendent turns down are factored into the employee’s earnings for pension purposes.
After his retirement, George started the Remember Ryan foundation Inc., in honor of his grandson, which has since contributed about $4,000 in grants to help fund student-led projects in the performing and visual arts.
The grants are for area districts not limited to North Tonawanda or Niagara County.
Contact reporter Neale Gulleyat 693-1000, ext. 114.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.