Hempstead parents outraged by superintendent Susan Johnson's salary

Parents in Hempstead are outraged after learning the district superintendent's salary. Newly hired Hempstead Schools Superintendent Susan Johnson will make more than $260,000 by 2016, plus a possible

News 12 Staff

Jul 4, 2013, 2:12 AM

Updated 4,040 days ago

Share:


Parents in Hempstead are outraged after learning the district superintendent's salary.

Newly hired Hempstead Schools Superintendent Susan Johnson will make more than $260,000 by 2016, plus a possible $40,000 in merit pay.

A school board member who helped negotiate the contract says he stands by it. He says the merit pay means Johnson's final salary will be based on whether she can turn around the school district.

The district's graduation rate is just 38 percent.

Parent Tanya Thomas says she hasn't seen any improvement in the school.

"Why should you be paying someone that much money?" Thomas asks. "They should put more money into education."

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has proposed capping superintendent salaries at $175,000 per year for larger districts. Right now, state records show that the majority of superintendents make more than that.


More from News 12