| In Illinois, superintendent compensation packages are not determined by collective bargaining. Neither are they governed by legal statute. A large range in the amount of compensation packages exists. The current study utilizes both causal-comparative and correlational methodology and seeks to define those variables that do influence the amount of these compensation packages. A review of literature with respect to educational compensation is presented. Utilizing data for all 2007/08 Illinois public-school-district superintendents, the researcher analyzed the impact of 14 independent variables to determine the effect of each on compensation. These variables were grouped into the following categories: geographical location, district type, district size, other district salaries, district wealth, superintendent turnover rate, and personal characteristics of the superintendent. Significant results were found for all of the independent variables with the exception of gender, which had no significant effect on compensation. Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) geographic region was found to have the greatest impact on superintendent compensation. Student enrollment was the second most significant predictor of superintendent compensation. Comment is made regarding these results in the context of the larger field of educational compensation research. Suggestions for current and aspiring superintendents as well as for boards of education seeking to hire superintendents are offered. |
