BURTON SUPERINTENDENT’S CONTRACT EXTENDED THROUGH 2020
The Burton ISD board of trustees extended the contract of Superintendent Edna Kennedy during their meeting on Thursday.
Dr. Kennedy’s contract was extended an additional year through 2020 and included a 3-percent salary increase. As of January 2016, the superintendent’s salary was $108,319. The increase will bring that salary up to $111,568. Kennedy joined the Burton district in February 2015 after the retirement of longtime Superintendent James Palmer.
The board also approved an order calling for a school board election on May 6th. Three school board positions are up for election this year. The expiring terms are currently held by Felton Cox, Jeff Harmel, and Misty Lucherk. The board also approved the appointment of election officials and approved a joint election contract with the City of Burton.
In other business, the board approved a resolution expressing the district’s interest in becoming a District of Innovation. Becoming a District of Innovation allows school districts to be exempt from a number of state statues, as well as allowing them to have greater local control and increased flexibility. In December, the Brenham ISD board of trustees adopted a resolution officially declaring their interest in becoming a DOI.
Thanks Bryan for sharing information. I, too seldom comment on a forum like this . Having observed Burton schools since 1966, I’ve noticed that there are usually two kinds of voters: those who are concerned with tax rates and those who are concerned with education. As one of the latter, I have been thrilled with many of the changes in Burton ISD in the last 20 years and the diversity of the board members.
With that said, some of the comments in this thread have been hilarious! First, you are not marrying Dr. Kennedy or voting for her. Where she owns property is none of your business. Next, I’m curious, on what planet
you think anyone uses a salary formula that goes “superintendent cannot make more than my husband and I make combined”. Frankly, I hope the superintendent makes more than my husband and I (she does!) because she has an incredible responsibility on her shoulders. Third, I’ve been accused of of spending a lot of time just hanging out in Burton but I’ve never noticed how much time Dr. Kennedy’s car is at the school. Actually, I don’t know which car is hers…..And lastly, if you are concerned about your first grader being bullied in the cafeteria, the comments section on KWHI is not going get that fixed (unless you are hoping her teacher reads this and recognizes her.)
Hi Old Timer,
I have mentioned the cafeteria issue with her teacher as well as several others teachers and they say there is nothing they can do at this time. Reread my reply I didn’t say she was being bullied I said she feels like she is being picked on. Imagine a first grader eating in the same location as an 8th grader or even a senior!! And what if her teacher recognizes her!!
I think it is evidently time for a change with the school board. They are approving the wrong things. Must be nice to make as much at a small school as they do at much larger schools. This is ridiculous!!! Same complaints as the above. What is so great about this superintendent. We may want to take care of the educators who can barely make enough to support their families. Better Burton schools, really??? With a bunch of new teachers, you won’t be getting better, you will be starting over.
Really? Well Please Please show us the facts to support your statement.
I would also like to know just how many board meetings you attend, since you seem to know so much about this?
Seems to me the people that are upset are not involved and don’t have a clue. Then they just want to complain, and whose fault is that?
I for one support this school, its students, its teachers, its admission, it’s superintendent, and it’s board! Seems to me they are doing a great job! We should help them to achieve greatness not bash!
Let’s elect someone else to do the same thing, I’m sure that’s gunna make it all better!
You know come that think of it a few years back we did elect two new members, then turned around and elected two that have been on the board for years! Now it’s time for a change??? Your statement is complicated too understanding from this point of view…
You know, this raise, she got just might be an across the board type raise. Where everyone got the same amount? Just my common thinking, I could be wrong. Point is, how about we all get the facts. Your basing your information on a news article! The same news that did not print the Brenham superintendents salary in the article they did on him! Think about that for a minute. Give me a break!
You know, Everyone has the opportunity to get an education. She has a PHD!
If what Mr Jaeger stated is true in regards to average pay, then seems like a no brainer! You get what you pay for!!! That’s just common sense!
I applaud Mr Jaeger for at least giving some insight as to what’s being done! I myself did not realize half of the things he stated and I do stay involved. At least he spoke up.
The comment made on build a better Burton school is a great example of how closed minded some people are. The school is old and too small. “Let’s just keep it the same”! Oh wait, let’s dump a boat load of money on old buildings and have the same problems! That worked well. This decision came from the taxpayers! Some of whom are against a new school! Think about that! This was approved prior to Dr Kennedy ever showing up!
What are you doing to support them???
Burton ISD you doing great!
Dr. Jackson’s salary as Superintendent of Brenham ISD was not included in our story about his salary remaining the same, and it should have been. His current salary is $172,529. Burton ISD has always been very upfront with salary information, and I applaud them for that.
I generally would not reply on a public forum as this, as some would see it as unprofessional for me to do so. With that said, I am commenting as an individual, and do NOT speak directly for the Burton ISD board. The information I will refer to is public information and can be found if proper research is done. This is NOT an official statement from the Burton ISD board.
To address the comments made on January 21 by “Concerned Taxpayer” and “Another Concerned Taxpayer”, I would be more than happy to meet with you on these matters and address and answer your questions. Please contact the district administration office to get in touch with me or leave me a message, but I hope that the following will help clear up questions you all may have.
I am confident in saying that Dr Kennedy is well involved in this school district and has the utmost best of intentions for the students and teacher of this district as well as this community. I will go as far as saying one of the most, in the history of Burton ISD, to show such compassion. I have seen this first hand. I would love to have a conversation as to the time she spends working for this district. The time she spends at Region 6 in Huntsville (and other State locations), finding out what it is the district needs to do to help the students and teachers improve the districts accountability rating. The time she spends at community events, not just in Burton, but also in Washington County. The time she spends on campus. The number of issues she deals with on a daily basis. The work she puts in to make sure this school district has a future plan. Not to mention the daily operations of the administration office and a annual Budget. You see only a board that is “Awake” could possibly see all of this. Perhaps this is why “her vehicle is hardly ever there” when someone takes a minute to drive by (I wasn’t aware that she had an assigned parking spot either.).
In regards to pay, Dr Kennedy took a pay cut to come to our district, which to me says she wants to be here (Based on State reported Superintendent Salaries 2015.) Just basing it off this data from October 2015-16, the district, is within average of schools our size for Superintendent pay.
In regards to living in the district, Dr Kennedy does live in the Burton district. I have not been able to find a Board Policy that states “The superintendent must own property in the district”. I have also searched other local ISD’s and could not find it in their Board Policies either. I’m not sure forcing someone to “own property” in an area they work is even legal. If it were the case, then it would stand to reason that all of our teachers would fall under this same policy/standard, which is almost impossible. Several of them don’t live in our district. However I’m no legal expert and there may be something out there. I will continue to research.
Our teachers and staff do an outstanding job and I will agree they do not get paid what they deserve. This is, and will always be, an issue for me as well. I will point out; over the past two years the board has approved raises for teachers. The most recent included staff and teachers. Is it enough? Absolutely not. I will always vote yes to increase teachers pay. They too are within the average of schools our size.
I believe this board does a great job of holding Dr Kennedy accountable. As well as being accountable for the tax dollars spent. I challenge you to find a better superintendent for our community, not going to happen. You’re doing a great job Dr Kennedy. Keep up the good work!
Brian Jaeger
Thank you, Brian Jaeger, for explaining how much Dr Kennedy does for our district. I know, for a fact, that she is on campus more than her predecessors ever were! She works hard for our school, as do our school board members,who work long hours after their regular jobs are done. They care about our students and our school district. Thanks to the school board members, superintendent, principals, teachers & staff on a job well done!
As mentioned in the other comment, school board elections are in May…. Time for a change!!! As a taxpayer in the district I do not understand how these salary numbers make sense. She makes more than my household with TWO incomes… The pay scale is not equal across the board for administrators and teachers.. I understand you wont pay teachers 100 grand, BUT increase their salaries some before giving 3% to just one person. Also there should be a requirement to LIVE in the district. NOT just have a PO box.. Time for a change. Voters be heard in May..
Dr Kennedy does live in the Burton ISD district.
As far as I know she still rents a house in the Burton ISD district. She does not own land in the Burton ISD district. Pull Kennedy up on the tax roll and her name does not come up.
My daughter is just starting Burton ISD. As for what I can see so far Mrs. Kennedy is involved in Burton activities, but like others said she makes more than our household of 2 good paying jobs. How is it not a slap in the face to the teachers that don’t get any raise? Consider expanding the cafeteria when my daughter, a first grader, is afraid to go to breakfast bc “bigger kids” are in there at the same time and some “pick” on her. Yea they may not be picking on her as we think but a first grader eating with an even 8th grader is frustrating.
I agree with the concerned tax payer, why was the superintendent rewarded when she bought property out of Washington County and paying taxes to another school district. I am a tax payer and it upsets me that the superintendent purchased property in another school district and when I drive through Burton her vehicle is hardly ever there and we are going to pay this superintendent $111,568.
It is so interesting that the superintendent continues to get a raise , yet the educators make what some would consider a “laughable” amount. Wake up school board members! Maybe with elections coming up there will be a change and someone who will stand up for the teachers will be elected. When are the people who really do the work going to get a significant raise? As far as I know Burton is the only school district that continues to reward superintendents who purchase property OUTSIDE of Washington County and pay taxes to OTHER school districts with a 3% rise EVERY year! I cannot speak for the teachers but if I were teaching there I would start looking for a new job . Somewhere where teachers are appreciated. It’s a slap in the face that the head hancho makes SO much more than the educators that show up every day!