School board increases Clark’s salary

The Vallejo school board unanimously approved a new threeyear contract with Superintendent Adam Clark, giving him a $12,000 raise on Wednesday.

The raise bumps Clark’s salary from $238,000 annually to $250,000, starting Feb. 1.

When first hired in September 2017, Clark received a yearly base salary of $230,000. However, through a “me too” clause in his contract, Clark has received matching pay increases from the “highest annual percentage salary adjustment to the base salary schedule for any employee group during the term,” according to his previous contract.

That “me too” clause was removed from his new contract which is retroactive to July 1, 2019.

In addition to the pay bump, Clark received the vocal support of his bosses, as trustees praised the former associate superintendent in the Antioch school system for making difficult decisions

since joining the Vallejo school district.

“We have challenges here, we all know that but Dr. Clark has rolled up his sleeves and dealt with those challenges,” Board President John Fox said from the dais. “We also know that we’ve had superintendents in the past, no names mentioned, that refused to deal with (the) budget.”

Fox pointed to the Clark’s work to eliminate budget deficits, and improve student

attendance.

“A few years ago we may have been taken over again by the state,” Fox said.

He also commended Clark for making staffing changes, when needed, including at the principal level, and looking at teacher performance.

“We want to make sure things are happening the right way so our students perform and get what they need,” Fox added about the principal changes last year. “We have some teachers that need to be doing better, and make better choices, and come to work.”

After three years at

Vallejo High School, Sheila Quintana was not retained as the school’s principal following the 2018-19 school year. Ernani Santos, principal of John Finney High School, also didn’t return.

The five-person board said Clark should be paid more than what the district was offering.

“I think he is worth more…we put him through hell the first two years,” said Board Vice President Tony Ubalde. He further stated that Clark has not been afraid to address the district’s issues.

Sheila Gradwohl, president of the Vallejo Education

Association, the union representing teachers in the district, said she was happy to see district employees paid what they are worth.

Fox addressed concerns from people who have criticized the pay increase. He pointed to the superintendents of Fairfield-Suisun and San Ramon Valley Unified school districts, who make more than Clark.

According to her contract with the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, Superintendent Kris Corey earned an annual base salary of $270,000 in July 2018, with the opportunity

for pay increases each year. Richard Schmitt, superintendent of San Ramon Valley Unified received a $318,000 base salary in 2018, according to Transparent California.

Fox said the increase was necessary to prevent other districts from poaching Clark.

“I believe that the superintendent is putting Vallejo on the map in a good way and we’ve been on the map in a bad way for quite some time,” said Trustee Christy Gardner.