O’Donnell receives new contract from SCASD

State College Area School District Superintendent Bob O’Donnell will be paid an annual salary of $197,500 beginning with the new school year on July 1 under the terms of his new five-year contract approved Monday.

He will also receive an annual raise of 2 percent and will retain eligibility for an additional 1.5 percent increase should he meet certain predetermined goals.

According to the most recent professional staff summary report, posted by the state Department of Education for the 2014-15 school year, O’Donnell was making a salary of $182,118.

In 2011, O’Donnell arrived at SCASD, a district that as of 2016 has 6,805 students. Over the course of his initial five-year tenure, the district passed a bond referendum for the construction of the State High project, launched the Community Education Extended Learning program and set the wheels in motion for updates to athletic fields and facilities.

For comparison, Bellefonte Area School District has 3,015 students and Superintendent Cheryl Potteiger had an annual salary of $140,662 during the 2014-2015 school year. Penns Valley Area School District has 1,455 students and Superintendent Brian Griffith had an annual salary of $134,545. Bald Eagle Area School District has 1,670 students and Superintendent Jeff Miles had an annual salary of $105,000.

Provided that he completes the full five years of his contract, O’Donnell’s new agreement also states that both he and his spouse will be eligible for retiree health insurance benefits through age 65 or the point that he becomes eligible for Medicare, whichever comes first.

This story was originally published February 23, 2016 at 5:19 PM with the headline "O’Donnell receives new contract from SCASD."