This story, initially printed at 9:55 a.m. July 10, 2024, was up to date at 3:30 p.m. to replicate that particulars of Thomas Taylor’s contract with MCPS had been first reported by native weblog Montgomery Perspective.
Thomas Taylor’s four-year time period as the brand new superintendent of Montgomery County Public Colleges (MCPS) began July 1 — and together with it got here a $360,000 annual wage, in line with Taylor’s contract with the district.
Taylor, the previous superintendent of Stafford County Public Colleges in Virginia, was appointed by the county faculty board on the finish of June.
Taylor is filling the highest administrative seat within the county public faculty system after the previous superintendent, Monifa McKnight, resigned in February. McKnight left after signing a separation settlement with the county following criticisms over the district’s dealing with of sexual harassment allegations in opposition to a former principal. In accordance with MCPS, McKnight was to obtain a complete of $1.3 million from the district.
Taylor’s annual wage of $360,000 represents a 12.5% improve – or $40,000 – over McKnight’s beginning wage of $320,000, in line with her contract when she was appointed in 2022. His wage can be $17,400 greater than McKnight was slated to obtain in 2024 earlier than her resignation. Native weblog Montgomery Perspective first reported the main points about Taylor’s contract.
Whereas his wage received’t improve in the course of the 2024-25 faculty 12 months, Taylor will obtain any wage share improve given to members of the Montgomery County Affiliation of Directors and Principals each different 12 months. The board also can improve Taylor’s pay after a wage and efficiency evaluate, in line with his contract.
Because the superintendent, Taylor will even obtain 13% of his base wage in deferred compensation yearly — greater than $46,000 based mostly on his present wage. The board will cowl annual insurance coverage premiums for Taylor and his household, in contrast to underneath McKnight’s contract, which allowed her to pick out plans on the similar prices and phrases as different MCPS staff.
In one other distinction from his predecessor’s contract, Taylor’s contract additional expands on how his efficiency might be evaluated and his anticipated relationship with the board, together with a piece requiring Taylor to fulfill with the board inside the first three months on the job.
“The Superintendent agrees to fulfill with the Board inside his first ninety (90) days of employment to determine communication protocols, focus on and set objectives and expectations,” the contract states.
Inside the subsequent 90 days following that first session, the board and superintendent should conduct a mid-year progress replace and maintain quarterly conferences for the remainder of Taylor’s time period.
The contract outlines the board’s settlement to share any issues about Taylor’s efficiency with him, and the superintendent agrees to convey criticism, complaints and ideas delivered to his consideration to the board as acceptable.
The superintendent and board should additionally meet within the final 12 months of his time period to debate his reappointment.
In accordance with the contract, Taylor should set up residency inside Montgomery County by Aug. 1. The board can pay relocation prices as much as $25,000 if he asks for 3 bids for a transferring contract and selects the bottom one. The board can be masking the prices for non permanent housing for Taylor and his household for as much as six months, to not exceed $4,000 a month.
Like earlier superintendents, Taylor will obtain an MCPS-owned automobile for college district functions throughout his time period, which runs from July 1 to June 30, 2028. The board will even cowl the price of gasoline, insurance coverage, upkeep and repairs for the automobile.
Taylor will obtain 30 days of annual go away and 15 private or sick days. He can carry over unused annual go away from 12 months to 12 months, cashing in solely 50% of his accrued however unused annual go away a 12 months.
Taylor has almost 25 years of expertise in public training, together with six as a superintendent. He holds a doctorate in training from the College of Virginia and a enterprise administration grasp’s from the Faculty of William and Mary.
He graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase Excessive College in 1996 and attended Somerset Elementary and Westland Center College, which was then often called Westland Intermediate College.
In a June interview with MoCo360, Taylor referred to as the MCPS superintendent place a “drop all the pieces job” attributable to his affinity for his house district.
