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Updated 10/27/2009 03:13 PM

AISD board provides bonus incentives for superintendent

By: News 8 Austin Staff

Monday, Austin Independent School District's Board of Trustees laid out the performance goals for its new superintendent, Meria Carstarphen.

Her current salary is $275,000 and her bonus could be as much as $47,500 if she meets thos performance goals.

For Carstarphen to get $22,500, the Texas Education Agency will need to issue an "academically acceptable" or better ranking to Pearce Middle School, Reagan High School and Garcia Middle School.

Those are considered three of the worst schools in the district.

Carstarphen could also earn an additional $25,000 if she meets other district-wide performance goals approved by the board of trustees.

"If we are able to eliminate our academically unacceptable schools, the amount of money that we will save this year and the out years will more than pay for itself in the compensation we have offered to the superintendent," AISD Board of Trustees Member Vincent Torres said.

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Torres said some of those goals may be easy while others will not.

"Right now we have some areas in the district where we have fallen behind and so what we are asking her to do is catch up. And, so these are really above and beyond what you would normally expect," he said.

AISD Board of Trustees laid out 15 goals each with a dollar figure attached. Many of the performance goals deal with raising the districts statewide accountability rating.

She'll also get money if the number of schools getting recognized and exemplary ratings go up.

Carstarphen could get partial bonus money for meeting some, but not all, of the goals.

Louis Malfaro with Education Austin believes the school board should be focusing on long term goals, not giving Carstarphen more money.

"What is the districts long term commitment and plan for turning around, not just these three schools, these aren't the only schools with real needs in the district," Malfaro said.

But it's a district that's made it clear, they're willing to shell out extra credit if Carstarphen can make the grade.

The district is experimenting with teacher performance bonuses at about 20 of its campuses.

AISD's total budget for this year is just under $1 billion.