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By PAMELA GOULD
Spotsylvania County's next school superintendent will receive the same pay as the current one, but will be required to reimburse some of his relocation expenses if he leaves before fulfilling his initial four-year contract.
The School Board on Monday named Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Scott Baker as the division's next superintendent.
He signed his contract on Tuesday and will receive a salary of $170,000, an annual retirement contribution of $10,000 and a car allowance of $6,000.
That is the same $186,000 package current Superintendent Shelley K. Redinger is receiving. She leaves at the end of the school year to become superintendent of Spokane Public Schools in her native state of Washington.
In his new position, Baker will get a pay raise of nearly $44,000. As assistant superintendent of instruction, he currently receives a salary of $138,397, plus a car allowance of $4,000.
Baker and his family live in Hanover County. He has until Aug. 1, 2013, to relocate to Spotsylvania. The time was set to give him time to sell his house and let his two children finish out the school year, schools spokeswoman Rene Daniels said.
That timeframe also allows his daughter, a junior, the chance to complete her high school career before moving, School Board Chairwoman Linda Wieland said.
The contract provides up to $10,000 toward relocation costs. The amount received will be based on the lowest of three bids.
Should Baker decide to leave before fulfilling his four-year contract, he will be required to repay the school division a pro-rated amount of the relocation expenses.
Wieland and Amanda Blalock, who co-chaired the superintendent search committee, said that clause was a result of "lessons learned" and the public's reaction to Redinger's quick departure.
Both said it was not meant as a negative toward Baker nor a concern that he might be thinking of leaving early.
"I have no worries about him or his longevity here," Blalock said. "It's just a common-sense approach."
Redinger, 44, was hired in February 2011 with the expectation that she would fulfill her contract in Spotsylvania.
However, Redinger applied for the Spokane position in February after being contacted by a search firm.
Redinger received $20,000 toward her cross-country relocation last year but was not asked to reimburse the division because her contract did not address the issue.
At least three board members had expressed concerns about that after hearing from constituents.
Baker's contract includes two changes from Redinger's. It spells out how to terminate a contract early and states that relocation expenses would be reimbursed on a pro-rated basis if he leaves before June 2016.
Baker was born in Roanoke, received all of his schooling in the state and has spent his entire education career in Virginia school divisions.
His current position will be posted for internal and external applicants within a week, Daniels said.
The goal is to hire someone by June 11 and have the person in place on July 1.
Pamela Gould: 540/735-1972
Email: pgould@freelancestar.com
The Spotsylvania School Board will host a reception for Scott Baker, the division's next superintendent.
WHEN: Monday, 5:30 p.m. WHERE: Schools administration building, 8020 River Stone Drive, Massaponax DETAILS: The event is free and open to the public.