Baltimore County has appointed William "Bill" Heiser as the new superintendent of schools, and his contract reveals a base salary of $329,000, making him one of the highest-paid superintendents in Maryland.
The Baltimore County school board approved Heiser's contract during a meeting on Monday evening, finalizing the decision late Tuesday afternoon with the necessary signatures. This decision comes after a challenging transition period following the retirement of former Superintendent Myriam Rogers, whose last day is today.
Heiser's starting salary exceeds the initial compensation of $310,000 that Rogers received when she first took the position in 2023, although she was earning $331,700 at the start of this school year. According to Heiser's contract, he will also receive a 2% annual cost of living increase, potentially raising his salary to $349,100 by the 2029-30 school year. Additionally, the school board retains the option to adjust his salary based on performance evaluations.
In comparison, the highest-paid superintendent in the state is Thomas Taylor of Montgomery County, with a salary of $382,428. Other notable salaries include Prince George's Shawn Joseph at $365,000 and Anne Arundel's Mark Bedell at $363,982. Meanwhile, the new CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, Jermaine Dawson, will earn $345,000, which is $25,000 less than his predecessor.
Rogers' contract mandated that she reside in Baltimore County, but she faced scrutiny after an investigation revealed she did not meet this requirement. In contrast, Heiser's contract stipulates that he must live in Baltimore County or within five miles of a Baltimore County Public Schools location, with a review of this residency requirement planned for the end of his first school year.
The school board undertook a national search for a new superintendent in a short timeframe, leading to some criticism from community groups regarding the process and the selection of Heiser. The announcement of his appointment came less than two weeks before he was set to begin, and the formal approval of his contract occurred just before the start of the new school year, necessitated by Maryland law.
Reported by HarborBeat based on thebanner.com (source).
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