Mpls. school board approves Ed Graff's superintendent contract

The Minneapolis school board approved a three-year contract with new superintendent Ed Graff.

Graff will begin his job on July 1 with an annual salary of $225,000, compared with $190,000 for former superintendent Bernadeia Johnson.

Last year, before selecting a new superintendent, the school board set a higher salary in an effort to attract high-caliber candidates. The average salary for an urban superintendent was $242,000 in 2014, according to the Council of the Great City Schools.

Johnson was entitled to bonuses of up to $40,000. Graff's contract does not include language for a bonus.

The contract, approved unanimously, is only valid if Graff is able to obtain a license variance next week. Graff, the outgoing superintendent in Anchorage, Alaska, does not have a license in Minnesota. The Minnesota Board of School Administrators will vote on granting Graff a provisional license.

If the variance is approved, Graff will have up to two years to attain full licensure.

"I don't have a doubt that he will get a variance," said School Board Member Rebecca Gagnon.

"I am very committed to this superintendent," said Board Member Carla Bates. Bates tried to table the vote on Graff's contract until the variance was approved.

Although Graff's contract does not begin until July 1, board members indicated that he will be in Minneapolis next week.

Other provisions of Graff's contract include:

• 35 vacation days each year.

• 11 paid holidays each year.

• $2,000 contributed by the district each year to a health savings account.

• $400 per month in car allowance, with potential for an increase each year.

• One formal and two informal evaluations each year.