After a recent performance evaluation, which yielded positive feedback for the Tacoma schools chief, Superintendent Art Jarvis avoided a raise and re-signed his contract for an additional year.
Jarvis has been with the district through the last two school years. He spent one year filling the interim role for the district, the most recent school year being his first in the permanent position.
Jarvis has led the district through a challenging time period, with severe budget restraints creating countless obstacles and tough decisions.
Tacoma School Board members praised Jarvis during his first annual performance review in particular for his handling of a tough budget situation, which included foreseeing the crunch early on in the year and avoiding any cuts to certified staff, unlike several South Sound school districts.
Jarvis, who earns a base salary of $240,000 a year, requested the board not offer him a raise before a formal discussion on the topic came up at a school board meeting June 25.
Because of financial woes for the district Jarvis quelled salary increases for principals in an effort to save money. Allowing the board to grant him a raise would be contradictory to the district’s mission to scrimp and save, he said.
“It’s in all fairness to other employees,” he said. “I don’t want to violate that.”
Board President Kim Golding requested that Jarvis re-sign his contract without a raise, adding an additional year to his existing terms.
The board unanimously approved the superintendent’s contract, making only minor housekeeping updates, and extended his employment agreement until 2012.
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