The members of the Krum school board obviously like their superintendent, Mike Davis. At a meeting earlier this month they voted to extend his contract by a full year, to June 2015.
What they didn't do - not now, at least - is raise his salary. The Krum board is going to wait until it evaluates its 2012-13 budget in June before it takes up the matter of Davis' salary and benefits.
That's what responsible school boards do in difficult economic times. The Krum board members are already sure that Davis deserves a raise - "He received a great evaluation," board President Phil Enis said - and we don't disagree. As a matter of fact, we tend toward the belief that anyone selfless enough to serve as a superintendent of schools in Texas in this era of a weak economy and a parsimonious Legislature probably deserves a lot more money than he or she is getting. But the harsh reality faced by school boards must be acknowledged, no matter who or what is to be blamed. Not only must school districts operate within their meager resources, they must retain the confidence of the taxpayers they serve.
Being cautious and prudent in granting salary increases, especially to top administrators, is one important way to do this. Not only is it smart politically (school board members are elected, after all), it is the right thing to do. Schools aren't suffering in a vacuum; residents who pay school taxes are operating under the same harsh economic conditions.
For his part, Mike Davis seems to have accepted his contract extension in the spirit in which it was given. He considers it a vote of confidence - which it certainly is - and was duly appreciative in an interview with the Record-Chronicle's Britney Tabor.
"I'm very happy," Davis said. "When you're working with a good board, good students … it's a fun place to be. It's not often you get that in one bunch. I'm very pleased to be here."
As far as we can tell, the members of the Krum school board are very pleased to have him, and they should be, but they are going to wait and get a look into the cash drawer in June before committing themselves to an action that might impact negatively on the district's bottom line.
