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ANTHONY’S CONTRACT INCLUDES ANOTHER RAISE IN 2010

By Amy Riggin/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Friday, September 4, 2009 10:17 PM CDT

A copy of Pine Bluff School District Superintendent Frank Anthony’s contract shows he will receive another pay raise in 2010.

Anthony provided The Commercial with the contract Friday but declined to comment on its contents.

The contract shows Anthony will be paid a salary of $150,000, effective Aug. 1 and continuing through June 30. Effective July 1, Anthony’s salary will increase to $163,636 through June 30, 2011.

The school board approved the contract Tuesday, with board member Herman Horace voting no. At that time, the Rev. Dr. W.R. Norful, board president, indicated Anthony’s salary would increase from $138,750 to $150,000. Norful did not mention the increase included for next year.

Along with the contract, Anthony provided a document reflecting “factors considered when negotiating the superintendent’s contract,” which included “competitiveness, training and experience, ability to evidence a proven track record and adequate and equitable when compared to peers.”

Also included was a list of 15 other 5A, 6A and 7A school districts and their superintendents’ salaries. Pine Bluff was reclassified from a 7A to a 6A district this year.

Those included were Springdale (7A), $231,453; Fayetteville (7A), $202,237; Bentonville (7A), $190,847; Fort Smith (7A), $190,000; Rogers (7A), $178,850; Benton (6A), $176,772; Cabot (7A), $175,000; Van Buren (7A), $164,000; Conway (7A), $163,000; El Dorado (6A), $150,000; Bryant (7A), $149,850; West Memphis (6A), $148,000; Russellville (7A), $147,046; Magnolia (5A), $149,564; and Forrest City (5A), $143,012.

Anthony’s salary for the last three school years, from 2006-2007 through 2008-2009, was $138,750.

Tuesday, Norful said Anthony received the pay increase to $150,000 because he was “a new hire.”

“So that was a negotiated salary,” he said.

The Arkansas Teacher Retirement System notified Anthony Aug. 14 that his retirement had been voided after determining he had not met qualifications requiring that retirees be totally removed from work for 30 days. He retired June 30 and said in a previous interview that he didn’t accept Norful’s offer to return until July 31. The board voted 3-1-1 to rehire him July 30 and he was back on contract Aug. 1.

Anthony has 60 days from receipt of the notification to lodge an appeal with the system’s 15-member board of trustees. Anthony acknowledged Thursday “that window has not closed,” but said he was “not at liberty to discuss” whether he would appeal the decision.

The following clause is included in Anthony’s contract: “District reserves the right during the term of this agreement, if same is for a period greater than one year, to end such agreement on June 30 of each year by giving superintendent 60 days notice of such intent in writing.”

Anthony will receive three weeks paid vacation and a district vehicle for “use on school business and limited personal use.”

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