By Marc Benjamin
The Fresno Bee
Fresno County’s superintendent of schools has decided to forgo more than $800,000 in salary and benefits over the next three years to save education programs in tight budget times.
Larry Powell, 63, said Monday that he will work for $31,020 in annual salary – the maximum by state law that can be paid to a retired education employee. The county office also must pay an additional $1,055 annually in Medicare and workers’ compensation.
Last week, the county board of education approved Powell’s retirement, then reappointed him to his superintendent’s job at the adjusted salary. His retirement is effective Aug. 31; his reappointment comes the following day.
Powell will make up the remainder of his salary through his retirement pay, accumulated after 411/2 years working in Sanger, Central and Fresno unified school districts, as well as at the Fresno County Office of Education.
Powell said he is giving up the salary and benefits – about $834,000 over the next 40 months – because he has reached his maximum pension through the state’s teacher retirement system.
By retiring now, Powell said, he can avoid risking part of his pension if the state reforms the system. But, he said, it’s unlikely pension reform would affect his retirement because attempts to trim benefits for retirees have been struck down in court. Any pension reform would be likelier to affect future employees, he said.
His annual salary is about $235,000 plus benefits, mileage, membership dues and cellphone, which can total as much as $288,000.
Powell says he is happy to make the financial concession. “I love my community, and it’s an opportunity to give back,” he said.
Even though he has hit the pension maximum, Powell said he was qualified to receive an additional 2.4% for each year of additional school service, which could have hiked his retirement even higher.
“My wife and I have discussed how much money you need to retire well,” he said. “And we decided that we have enough.”
Dorothy Powell is a retired Fresno Unified School District principal and has benefits for life, he said.
If the county office has to make midyear cuts, Powell’s former salary could offset cuts to programs he cares about, such as early childhood education, arts programs and Advancement Via Individual Determination, a high school program that directs students toward college who might not otherwise have considered it.
Powell’s retirement plan shows “extraordinary leadership,” said Walt Buster, director of the Central Valley Educational Leadership Institute at the Kremen School of Education at Fresno State. “He is the role model for how elected officials should behave.”
Buster said he has not heard of others giving up similar amounts of money.
“It’s remarkable,” he said. “I just can’t say enough about Larry’s thoughtfulness and integrity and his willingness to put others first, but Larry has always done that.”
Pete Mehas, who served as county schools superintendent from 1990 to 2006 and was Powell’s predecessor, added: “If it saves money for the kids … who cannot be supportive of that?”
Powell’s salary giveback isn’t the first in Fresno County, although it may be the most generous. Fresno County supervisors recently agreed to a 7% pay cut this fiscal year, bringing their base salary to $99,764.
Supervisors lowered their pay because the county negotiated salary cuts – ranging from 2% to 8% – for roughly 1,800 employees.
Other county officials agreed to take pay cuts as well. County Administrative Officer John Navarrette’s pay dropped by 7% and other office-holders donated portions of their pay.