Angela Brandt
Havre Daily News
abrandt@havredailynews.com
The Havre school board unanimously approved a new three-year contract for Superintendent Kirk Miller, which includes a $10,680 raise next year.
School board chair Denise Thompson declined to comment on the contract and said the board's only comment would be in a press release issued Wednesday.
The release said the board agreed to a base salary of $95,000, which amounts to a raise of 12.6 percent.
“As a graduate of Havre Public Schools and former teacher at Havre High School, Dr. Miller exemplifies the greatest achievement any community could hope for in sound educational opportunities for its sons and daughters,” the press release said.
Miller said in an interview Wednesday that the salary will be evaluated annually.
He said he is looking forward to continuing the “tradition of excellence” of Havre Public Schools, and considers the board a “great team.” He said he sees the contract as an “endorsement of the whole team.”
Miller has been the superintendent in Havre for 10 years and chairs the state Board of Public Education.
Members of a superintendent's contract negotiating team recommended the extension of the position through June of 2009, the press release said.
The school board held a closed session at the end of Tuesday night's regular school board meeting to discuss personal issues raised by Miller, Thompson said. The board then reopened the meeting to the public to discuss the contract, she added.
Miller's salary this school year is $84,321.
“Believing that recognition of his commitment and dedication to the education of students within the Havre district was best acknowledged by efforts of the Board to actively retain his expertise, the Trustees agreed to a base salary during the contract period of $95,000,” the board's release said.
