GOLDEN — All five members of the Jefferson County Public Schools Board of Education voted Tuesday afternoon to name Jason Glass the new superintendent of Colorado’s second-largest school district, awarding him a $265,000-a-year pay package — the highest base salary of any superintendent in the state.
“It’s time for us to set a new course,” said board member Brad Rupert to a mostly full room at district headquarters in Golden.
The reception in the room for Glass — steady applause and a standing ovation — couldn’t have been more different when he took the same job three years ago under a completely different board. That night in 2014, people in the audience derided McMinimee for what they claimed was a lack of experience and credentials, and two members of the board voted against hiring him.
McMinimee, who came to Jefferson County from an administrative post with the Douglas County School District, was selected to be superintendent by members of a controversial board majority .
On Tuesday, there were only kind words for Glass, a 45-year-old father of two who has led the Eagle County School District as superintendent since 2013. Before that he was the director of education for the state of Iowa. Glass was , after a months-long nationwide search.
https://twitter.com/COJasonGlass/status/864629125784281088
“I know this is the right choice,” school board member Susan Harmon said.
Many in the audience lauded Glass . They also commended him for his open communication in thoughtful articles he has written for newspapers and on social media. They said Glass was someone who respects teachers and is in turn respected by them.
“I think we’re in a place where we can start building bridges again,” said Lisa Cook, a parent of students in Jefferson County schools.
Jefferson County Public Schools has been through a rocky period since 2013, when a reform-minded board took power and attempted to head in new directions on curriculum and school choice. Many teachers vociferously resisted the new leadership’s direction, and .
Glass, who will start work July 1, was given a three-year contract that pays him a base salary of $265,000 a year. The contract calls for the district to contribute the equivalent of 7 percent of Glass’ annual salary — or $18,550 — to a tax-sheltered annuity plan.
He also will get an automobile allowance of $750 a month and 25 vacation days a year. But there doesn’t appear to be the performance pay for Glass that
Glass earns $195,500 plus benefits with Eagle County Schools.
“The salary is absolutely in line with the size of the district,” said Melissa Gibson, director of membership and strategic partners at the Colorado Association of School Executives. “They want to attract the best possible candidate.”
According to Colorado Department of Education salary data, the highest-paid superintendent in Colorado before Glass’ contract was approved Tuesday was Harry Bull of Cherry Creek schools, at $250,000 a year.
Denver Public Schools is the only district larger than Jefferson County by student count. Superintendent Tom Boasberg makes slightly more than $236,000 in base salary, although he earned a $39,500 performance bonus last year. He donated that bonus to the Denver Public Schools Foundation, as .
Glass told the audience Tuesday that the community’s biggest stumbling blocks in strengthening the 86,0000-student district are “ignorance and poverty.”
“It will take this community striving together to defeat them,” he said. “We have to work on coming together and uniting.”
Updated May 17, 2017 at 18:42 p.m. null
Updated May 17, 2017 at 18:42 p.m. Because of incorrect information from a source, this story has been updated to correctly describe how much money Denver Public Schools superintendent Tom Boasberg donated to the DPS Foundation. He donated his entire $39,500 bonus.
