The top five earners at the Abbotsford school district have been revealed.
Collectively, the executive staff was compensated more than $1 million during the 2016/17 fiscal year ending June 30, 2017.
Superintendent Kevin Godden topped the list with $265,968 in total compensation. That includes his $200,597 salary, $13,355 in benefits, $27,876 to his pension, a $16,048 vacation payout and $8,012 vehicle allowance. Godden’s total compensation was up by nearly $30,000 over the previous year.
Secretary-treasurer Ray Velestuk was compensated with $196,891, including a $151,225 salary. He received $184,316 the previous year and $178,393 before that.
Rounding out the executive staff compensation were the district’s three assistant superintendents: Angus Mackay ($184,961), Gino Bondi ($181,206) and Carla Danielsson ($175,465).
In neighbouring Chilliwack, Superintendent Evelyn Novak received $211,408 in compensation, including a $173,683 salary.
In Surrey – B.C.’s largest school district – superintendent Jordan Tinney’s total compensation was $334,833, including a $246,705 salary.
An Abbotsford district report explains the reasoning behind the six-figure salaries for its executives: “The board of education adopts practices that enable the district to attract, retain, incent and reward qualified, high-performance employees who are essential to the delivery of public education programs to students in the Abbotsford school district.”
Senior leaders with the district are entitled to six weeks of vacation each year.
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kelvin.gawley@abbynews.com
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