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Shawnee Mission Reveals Details Of Superintendent’s $250,000 Salary

Shawnee Mission School District

Shawnee Mission Board of Education hired Michael Fulton to be the district's next superintendent for $250,000 a year, but the other details of his contract have been finalized.

Fulton will receive $1,000 a month car allowance "for the purpose of offsetting all necessary operating expenses for travel required to perform duties" in the Kansas City area. In addition, the district will also provide a yearly $24,000 tax-sheltered annuity.

Fulton will get 31 vacation days a year in addition to all days off students and staff get.

Fulton comes from the Pattonville district in suburban St. Louis, Missouri, where he was making $267,000 a year, according to state records.

How does this deal compare to former superintendent Jim Hinson's? Very favorably.

Hinson's final contract paid him $254,280 a year. He also received the same tax free annuity and $1,000 monthly car allowance.

Hinson was the first superintendent in Johnson County to crack a quarter million dollars or more a year, which has become the going rate for big Johnson County school districts.

John Allison, who started as superintendent at the Olathe school district in 2017, is making $250,000 per year with a $1,000 monthly car allowance and a $12,500 yearly tax free annuity.

Todd White signed for $230,000 a year with the Blue Valley school district in 2016. Blue Valley didn't immediately return a call asking about his 2017 pay.

Sam Zeff is KCUR's Metro Reporter. Follow him on Twitter @SamZeff.

You deserve to know what your taxpayer dollars are paying for and what public officials are doing on your behalf – I’ll work to report on irresponsible government spending in the Kansas City area and shed light on controversies that slow government down. And when you hear my voice in the morning, you know you’re getting everything you need to start your day. Email me at sam@kcur.org, find me on Twitter @samzeff or call me at 816-235-5004.
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