How Henrico Schools' superintendent's salary compares to that of other districts' chiefs
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When Henrico County School Board members voted to increase Superintendent Amy Cashwell’s salary by $38,000 in late June, the board chair said the intent was to stay on par with neighboring school districts.
As superintendent of the sixth largest school district in Virginia, Amy Cashwell makes less than superintendents of the state’s four largest school districts, but more than the superintendent of the fifth largest district.
“This adjustment is also about remaining competitive in the market,” said School Board Chair Roscoe Cooper III at the board meeting. “As much as we enjoy and benefit from her leadership, the truth is that someday a future board will need to search for Dr. Cashwell’s successor and Henrico will only be able to attract the best candidates if it demonstrates and sustains a commitment to education and leadership.”
Cashwell’s base salary is now $255,622. As is typical of many superintendent contracts, Cashwell also receives a car allowance of $1,200 per month, along with coverage of business related expenses, according to her contract. Cashwell’s $38,000 raise was funded by the Henrico County Board of Supervisors. No HCPS funding will be reallocated as a result of her salary adjustment, according to Cooper.
“My peers and I have analyzed the market for the ambitious amount of responsibility and accountability that we expect of our superintendent in Henrico County,” Cooper said at the board meeting. “Dr. Cashwell has served this community for substantially less than what our counterparts receive in neighboring localities. She has never ever once commented or complained or asked for a raise.”
The superintendent of the state’s largest school district, Fairfax County, receives a $311,526 base salary, according to his most recent contract. (In July, it will be increased by the annual cost of living adjustment percentage given to all employees.) His car allowance is $7,200 a year, which is half of Cashwell’s car allowance.
Of the largest six school districts in Virginia, Cashwell out-earns only the Chesterfield County Public Schools Superintendent, Mervin Daugherty, whowas appointed in November 2018. Daugherty receives a base salary of $236,900 with no additional car allowance. The Chesterfield school district is comparative in size to HCPS, with 60,904 students enrolled for the 2020-2021 school year, according to data from the Virginia Department of Education.
Here’s a breakdown of superintendent salaries at Virginia’s largest six school districts:
Fairfax County Public Schools
Superintendent Scott Brabrand
Start date: July 2017
Base salary: $311,526
Student enrollment: 180,076
Prince William County Public Schools
Superintendent: LaTanya McDade
Start date: July 2021
Base salary: $310,000
Student enrollment: 89,577
Loudoun County Public Schools
Superintendent: Scott Ziegler
Start date: July 2021
Base salary: $295,000
Student enrollment: 81,319
Virginia Beach City Public Schools
Superintendent: Aaron Spence
Start date: July 2014
Base salary: $257,258
Student enrollment: 65,612
Chesterfield County Public Schools
Superintendent: Mervin Daugherty
Start date: Nov. 2018
Base Salary: $236,900
Student enrollment: 60,904
Henrico County Public Schools
Superintendent: Amy Cashwell
Start date: July 2018
Base salary: $255,622
Student enrollment: 50,191
Student enrollment figures are according to data from the Virginia Department of Education for the 2020-2021 school year.
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Anna Bryson is the Henrico Citizen's education reporter and a Report for America corps member. Make a tax-deductible donation to support her work, and RFA will match it dollar for dollar.
