The leaders at a California faculty district that’s on the point of collapse are being paid a fortune regardless of the disaster, the Publish can reveal.
The higher echelons of Santa Rosa Metropolis Faculties, about an hour north of San Francisco, earn properly over $1 million mixed — with the superintendent making over $250,000 per 12 months.
Regardless of the disaster, when the Publish contacted the varsity for remark, nobody was accessible to remark resulting from spring break.
It comes because the district teeters on the snapping point after what investigators known as a large over hiring system and ballooning pay packets.
Lisa August Hulme, the now interim Superintendent for Santa Rosa Metropolis Faculties, has a base wage of $261,537.
That’s within the ninetieth percentile of California’s superintendents and nearer to salaries in bigger districts, comparable to San Diego with over 20,000 college students. Santa Rosa Metropolis Faculties have simply over 12,000.
John Fischer, the manager director of the particular companies workplace — who has been vocal about under-funding for college kids from the federal stage — earned over $177,000 after advantages.
Different high salaries embrace Dr Vicki Zands, an assistant superintendent who makes over $222,000 a 12 months after advantages, and Roderick Castro, assistant superintendent of instructing and studying made $243,410.60.
Stacy A. Desideri, the Government Director of Wellness & Engagement additionally earned a complete compensation of $198,000.
The 2025-2026 Santa Rosa Metropolis faculties administration wage schedule reveals above common fee for numerous positions together with $170,000 for a highschool principal. The California common is $135,000.
The Publish’s request for touch upon how salaries within the district are decided wasn’t instantly returned with some executives out on spring break.
Given the funds points, among the district’s executives have taken pay cuts to attempt to assist with the deficit.
Faculties districts in California earn cash primarily based on the variety of college students enrolled, however the numbers within the district has steadily declined over the previous 5 years.
Obtain The California Publish App, comply with us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
California Publish Information: Fb, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn
California Publish Sports activities Fb, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X
California Publish Opinion
California Publish Newsletters: Join right here!
California Publish App: Obtain right here!
Dwelling supply: Join right here!
Web page Six Hollywood: Join right here!
Santa Rosa Metropolis Faculties have been reprimanded by Sonoma County training chiefs for blowing stacks of money.
The district misplaced numerous college students resulting from covid and devastating wildfires that passed off within the area in 2017, burning over 5600 buildings and killing 22.
Extra not too long ago at one of many District faculties, Montgomery Excessive, a 16 12 months previous scholar was fatally stabbed by one other scholar in 2023.
Jayden Jess Pienta, was knifed in a classroom and later died at Santa Rosa Hospital.
