Superintendent Kevin Smith’s salary for the 2014-15 school year is $199,000, with an annuity of $20,000, making him the top paid administrator in the Wilton School District.
The second highest-paid administrator slot is tied between Assistant Superintendent Charles Smith and Assistant Superintendent of Special Services Ann Paul, both of whom have salaries of $185,000 this year.
Dr. Charles Smith’s salary increased $20,000 this year and Ms. Paul’s salary jumped $23,993 from last year, when she was the district’s special education director.
The following seven administrators make up the remainder of the top 10 list of highest-paid salaries in the school district:
- Wilton High School Principal Robert O’Donnell: $166,240 — a $4,240 increase from last year.
- Miller-Driscoll Principal Cheryl Jensen-Gerner: $159,374 — a $3,341 increase from last year.
- Middlebrook Principal Maria Coleman: $158,405 — a $4,443 increase from last year.
- Cider Mill Principal Jennifer Mitchell: $156,784 — a $4,784 increase from last year.
- Human Resource and General Administration Director Susan Paley: $155,000.
- Financial Director Ken Post: $154,666 — a $4,505 increase from last year.
- Associate Wilton High School Principal Richard Sanzo: $147,395 — a $5,105 increase from last year.
According to Mr. Post, Wilton School District unions are comprised of approximately:
- 23 administrators and supervisors.
- 362 teachers.
- 140 secretaries, clerks and aides.
- 41 custodians.
Administrator salaries
There is a salary range starting at 90% of the maximum salary range for administrators and supervisors, according to the Wilton Administrators and Supervisors Association contract , which expires June 30, 2016.
Administrators are contracted to either a 205-day or 12-month work year.
The special services director, assistant director of special services and technology director each get a $250 travel allowance per month, according to the contract.
Newly hired administrators are to be placed within the district’s set salary range, according to the contract. From there, administrators are to advance within the range and meet maximum salary by the beginning of the fifth year, as follows:
- 92.5% of the maximum in the second year of employment.
- 95% of the maximum in the third year.
- 97.5% of the maximum in the fourth year.
According to the administrators’ contract, the Board of Education has the right to advance administrators through the range more quickly.
The maximum salaries for each administrative and supervisor position during the 2014-15 year are as follows:
- High school principal: $172,290.
- Middle school principal: $164,981.
- Elementary school principal: $163,716.
- Associate high school principal: $152,470.
- Assistant high school principal: $146,755.
- Technology director: $145,743.
- Assistant elementary school principal: $134,934.
- Special education director: $165,488.
- Assistant special education director: $145,237.
- Athletic director: $123,918.
- Preschool director: $141,693.
In addition, administrators with either a Ph.D. or Ed.D. receive an annual $1,000 stipend, according to the contract.
Teacher salaries
According to Wilton’s teacher contract , which expires June 30, 2015, teachers are required to work a minimum of eight hours a day during a “normal work year” of 187 days.
Wilton teachers could earn between $47,240 and $115,183 during the 2014-15 year, depending on their education level and number of years working for the district.
For each additional year of work, a teacher receives a new level of base pay. The Wilton School District has a maximum of eight steps for those with a bachelor’s degree, 12 steps for a master’s and up to 14 steps for Sixth-Year certificates and doctoral degrees. The salary schedule begins at Step 2.
- A second-step teacher with a bachelor’s degree earned $47,240, while a ninth-step teacher with the same degree earned $68,462.
- A second-step teacher with a master’s degree earned $52,495, while a 13th-step teacher with the same degree earned $93,264.
- A second-step teacher with a Sixth Year earned $56,580, while a 15th-step teacher with the same degree earned $106,671.
- A second-step teacher with a Ph.D. earned $62,260, while a 15th-step teacher with the same degree earned $115,183.
Teachers are also able to earn higher salaries as they earn additional graduate credits or advanced degrees.
Secretaries, clerks, aides
The contract for secretaries, clerks and aides expired June 30, 2014. Mr. Post said the district is still negotiating a new one with the WAESCA union.
According to the old contract, secretaries, clerks and aides were paid hourly wages for either 52-week or 185-day work years, and hourly wages depended on the cluster each position fell under:
- Cluster A included campus supervisors, general clerical aides, receptionists, and bus aides.
- Cluster B included paraprofessionals, audiovisual assistants, library assistants, lab technicians, and Wilton High School copy center assistants.
- Cluster C included school, activities, guidance, athletics, special education, attendance and business office secretaries and college and career center assistants.
- Cluster D included Wilton High School audiovisual production technicians.
- Cluster E included executive secretaries.
- Cluster F included bookkeepers and Wilton High School registrar.
- Cluster G included administrative assistants.
At $36.30 an hour, the highest paid positions fell under Cluster G, while the lowest-paid positions fell under Cluster A, receiving an hourly wage of $20.49 to $24.80.
Custodians
The custodian contract on the Wilton School District website expired on June 30, 2013, but was negotiated in the fall, said Mr. Post.
The old contract showed an hourly rate for 2012-13 of $19.24 to $22.69. The hourly rate for lead custodian was $25.69, head custodian $26.91 and maintenance $27.92.