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Schools

Wilcox receives praise, but no new contract

The School Board gives the superintendent, who is being courted by other districts, tips on where he needs to improve.

By DONNA WINCHESTER
Published September 21, 2005

LARGO - Pinellas school superintendent Clayton Wilcox received his first report card Tuesday, and while most of his grades were good, the School Board stopped short of extending his contract or raising his pay.

One board member provoked a heated exchange on the matter.

Most praised Wilcox for his planning ability, his vision and his insight. But they said he needs to manage his time better, be stricter with employee discipline and refrain from making negative comments about employees.

The three-hour workshop got ugly at one point, with Wilcox and board member Mary Russell exchanging barbed comments.

While conceding the superintendent's evaluation was generally positive, Russell said that did not mean he deserved a pay increase.

"I don't want to be the school board that hired the most expensive superintendent in the country," said Russell, who said the district has yet to see results from Wilcox. "The superintendent I want for Pinellas County is someone who is a public servant, with the best interests of the district at heart."

Wilcox responded by saying the conversation had gone "beyond bizarre," and said it was never his intention to ask for a pay increase. All he wanted from the board, he said, was a one-year contract extension.

"I have no grand design to be the highest paid superintendent anywhere," he told Russell. "For you to sit there and say those kinds of things to me is embarrassing for me."

The question of a pay increase was, in fact, brought up by board member Jane Gallucci.

Saying she wanted to "put reality on the table," Gallucci said she feared other school districts may try to woo Wilcox away from Pinellas. She said Wilcox was approached recently by recruiters hired to find a superintendent for Duval County.

The annual base salary there: $275,000.

Wilcox, 49, agreed a year ago to a 31/2-year contract in Pinellas at a base annual salary of $177,000. His benefits include a car, insurance and a $13,000 annuity, for a total package valued at about $235,000 a year.

The deal is $66,000 less than the total package paid to former superintendent Howard Hinesley, who led the district for 14 years.

Chairwoman Nancy Bostock agreed the board should discuss raising Wilcox' salary, perhaps in the form of a bonus tied to increased student achievement. But board member Linda Lerner disagreed.

"I believe you stay with the contract you negotiate," Lerner said. "When it comes up for renewal, I think all of this could be on the table, but not now."

Russell said she was hesitant to raise Wilcox' salary without giving the public a chance to weigh in. The testy exchange between her and Wilcox followed.

In the end, it was Wilcox who halted the discussion, asking the board to "let it go."

Bostock then appointed a committee to discern "the voice of the board" on a possible pay increase and contract extension.

Before the proceedings turned acrimonious, Steve Iachini, the district's director of research and accountability, passed out a summary of the comments board members wrote last summer about the superintendent's performance.

Among his observations:

They view Wilcox as a "good change facilitator" with a sense of optimism and confidence, but think his sense of urgency causes discomfort for some employees.

They are pleased with the "changes and improvements" made in the transportation department.

They think his technology initiatives, while worthwhile, benefit administrators more than teachers and students.

They applaud his rapport with community members, but think he should communicate more with staff affected by his proposed changes.

In response, Wilcox outlined an "improvement plan" that includes a renewed commitment to providing board members with information and a promise to make himself more accessible to them.

He also pledged to continue working on closing the achievement gap and streamlining the district's transportation and student assignment systems.

Questioned after the meeting, Wilcox expressed disappointment that the district did not move to extend his contract. He said he will need some assurance within the next year that the school board wants him to stay.

"You've got to have options," he said. "In the final 18 months, I'll have to be thinking about what to do next. The problem for a superintendent is when you start looking, people think you want to go."

But while he said he has been approached by two districts in addition to Duval in the past four months, Wilcox said he has no desire to leave.

"I've said I want my kids to graduate from Pinellas County schools," he said. "I have a daughter in fourth grade. That means I plan to be around for a while."

Donna Winchester can be reached at 727 893-8413 or winchester@sptimes.com Times researcher Angie Drobnic Holan contributed to this report.

[Last modified September 21, 2005, 00:25:10]