Superintendent Contracts Made Public

Education Minister Jane Purves today made public the employment contracts for school board superintendents and announced the process for a detailed review.

"Senior school board administrators deserve fair and appropriate compensation and benefits, but the public must know that they are based on acceptable standards," said Ms. Purves, tabling the contracts in the legislature.

The Public Service Commission will conduct a complete review of the compensation packages for superintendents and senior staff, including duration, cancellation and severance provisions and any other form of remuneration and benefits. The review will include the process for approving and reporting total compensation at the school board or board committee level. The commission will also make recommendations for policies and practices of public disclosure and for compensation and accountability.

The results of the review will be reported to the minister by the end of the fiscal year.

"In the last two weeks, the need to improve accountability has become clear," added Ms. Purves. "I made a commitment to be as open and as forthcoming as the law allows and I will share these findings when the process is complete."

Last week, Ms. Purves disclosed details of irregularities in two school boards. The incident in Chignecto Central involved $1.7 million in spending by the superintendent and chief financial officer without authorization by the school board. In the Strait, the situation involved a personal loan guarantee to the superintendent in 1998, also without the knowledge of the board.

The minister noted that she is prepared to make regulatory and/or legislative changes to ensure such events are not repeated.