SE Dallas News

Amidst debates surrounding the compensation of educators and administrators in Texas, concerns have been voiced by Rep. Brian Harrison regarding the allocation of funds within the state's education system. The spotlight falls on Mark Henry, superintendent of Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (ISD), who commands a salary exceeding $500,000, making him the highest-paid public school superintendent in Texas, according to the Texas Education Agency's (TEA) annual salary data for the 2021-22 school year.

"It’s unconscionable that – in Texas – local bureaucrats make more than the president of the United States!" Harrison tweeted.

Harrison also raised questions about the potential consequences of these inflated salaries, including the possible lack of hiring for teachers and tutors, as well as potential financial strain on retirees who might face increased property taxes due to these taxpayer-funded salaries.

The Houston Chronicle's investigative report from Sept. 12, 2022, analyzed TEA data to reveal the highest-paid school superintendents in Houston and Texas. The report highlighted Henry and noted that the top 10 superintendent salaries in the Houston area exceeded $300,000, with school districts primarily funding salaries through property tax revenue. Salaries in school districts are mainly funded through property tax revenue.

Earlier this year on April 13, Harrison took to platform X to respond to inquiries about his perspective on superintendent salaries, stating that he had served as chief of staff for the world's largest government agency, overseeing a budget exceeding $1.4 trillion and 25 divisions, with a staff of over 85,000 employees. He highlighted the disproportion between his own compensation and the extravagant salaries of certain superintendents, questioning whether any school districts could compare in scale.

Despite a $32 billion surplus, Texas state legislators failed to pass a statewide raise for teachers in the most recent legislative session. Meanwhile, school districts are striving to bolster teacher salaries. However, a CBS News Texas report from Aug. 18 highlights a contrasting trend, revealing that superintendent salaries have reached new heights. The average superintendent salary in Texas is approximately $148,950, and an analysis by the CBS News Texas I-Team of contracts from nearly 50 districts shows that half of these contracts include superintendent salaries of at least $300,000.