Here's how much Menasha Joint School District's next superintendent will make in his first year
MENASHA - Matthew Zimmerman will make $182,000 in his first year as superintendent of the Menasha Joint School District, according to the contract approved by the school board Monday night.
Zimmerman — a current assistant superintendent in the Appleton Area School District — will take over the role of superintendent on July 1. He was selected by the school board to replace Chris VanderHeyden, who announced his retirement from the position in January.
"I'm honored and excited for the opportunity," Zimmerman said before the board's vote, adding with levity that he was far less nervous to be in the room Monday night than he was last time for his interview.
With a unanimous vote, the board approved Zimmerman's contract, including a salary of about $12,000 more than VanderHeyden's 2021-22 salary of $170,000.
After the meeting, VanderHeyden said he's excited to work with Zimmerman in the transition.
"I'm certainly going to do everything I can to make sure the transition is successful and we keep making good strides here at Menasha," he said.
According to 2022 data from the Department of Public Instruction's Public Administrative Salary Report, Zimmerman will have the third-highest salary among superintendent in the Fox Valley behind Appleton's Greg Hartjes, who makes $200,000, and Neenah's Mary Pfeiffer, who makes $190,000.
A copy of VanderHeyden's 2021-23 contract obtained by The Post-Crescent in August showed $12,000 in additional annual retirement benefits in the form of a 403(b) tax-sheltered annuity plan on top of his state pension. Zimmerman's contract that was approved Monday night does not include that same benefit.
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The superintendent contract posted on the board's public meeting portal includes other benefits, such as 90 days of paid time off and 11 days for holidays.
Other benefits are more focused on professional development, such as the reimbursement of up to six graduate credits per school year, attendance at state and national conventions, and membership dues for professional associations.
The school board will evaluate Zimmerman annually and devote a portion of at least one meeting per quarter to discuss the relationships between Zimmerman and the board.
The contract expires at the end of June 2025.
More:Appleton-area superintendents have a $173,000 average salary. But here's what they really make.
Reach AnnMarie Hilton at ahilton@gannett.com or 920-370-8045. Follow her on Twitter at @hilton_annmarie.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Menasha approves $182,000 salary for new superintendent Zimmerman
