Latest deal for MH school chief leaves Gilroy’s superintendent
far behind in compensation
Gilroy – Eight months after Gilroy’s district chief received a significant raise, which pressed him closer to the going-rate, the superintendent finds himself even farther down on the salary totem pole.
Back in October, the Gilroy Unified School District board approved a 25 percent raise, bumping Superintendent Edwin Diaz’s salary from $139,514 to $175,000. With benefits and perks added in, Diaz’s total compensation package tops out at $188,750.
Even with the pay hike Diaz still took home at about $10,000 less than the superintendent to the north, but that number more than doubled now that the Morgan Hill Unified School District board bumped up its chief’s salary package to $212,000.
MHUSD Superintendent Alan Nishino, who was hired last July, received a 5 percent increase raising his base salary to $194,250. Diaz has been on board for the past five years.
For David McRae those skewed numbers spell serious trouble.
“I’d say it’s a major concern,” the school board member said, adding that the district is heading in a certain direction under the leadership of Diaz.
Fortunately, McRae pointed out, the board approved the 25 percent raise in October.
“If we hadn’t done that we would be so far behind now, we would probably just lose the guy,” he said. “If you don’t pay for the talent you’re not going to have the talent at any level and at some point we have to recruit the best talent.
And that goes for teachers, superintendents and any skilled position.”
That a district a mere 12 miles away is willing to pay its top man $23,250 more, is a sticky point recruitment-wise. And on the practical end, if Diaz ditches GUSD for a higher-paying position, the cost to replace him would exceed a significant raise.
There’s no way the district could offer an incoming superintendent $175,000 annually when that’s clearly not the going rate in South County, McRae said. The trustee called Diaz ” a highly sought-after” superintendent, who is often wooed at educational gatherings.
“The guy’s a celebrity,” McRae said. “He’s highly skilled and has a great track record. People are trying to recruit him every time they see him and they do that with people who are talented.”
But not all local educators are excited about the prospect of another raise for Gilroy’s homegrown superintendent. Gilroy Teacher’s Association President Michelle Nelson said Diaz, who grew up in Gilroy, should step in line.
“I think he should wait because it’s just my personal opinion,” Nelson said. “I think the employees should come first, not the superintendent. … And historically the Gilroy superintendent (salary) has been low, but so have the teachers and other employees in the district.”
The board is currently evaluating Diaz’s performance and contract. Diaz was unavailable for comment as of press time.
