LCPS board approves superintendent’s contract

The Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education approved a two-year contract with Superintendent Sonia Diaz at tonight’s meeting. She’s expected to sign the contract in a few days. After that, it will be available for the public to inspect.

Under the contract, which begins July 1 and lasts through June 30, 2008, Diaz will be paid an annual salary of $160,000 – almost $30,000 more than the previous superintendent, Louis Martinez.

Here are the other terms of the contract:

• 30 days annual leave and 12 days of sick leave per year

• Monthly car allowance of $800

• Monthly reimbursable expenses not to exceed $400

• Reimbursement of moving expenses

• “Transition costs” not to exceed $3,000

• A cellular telephone, computer, internet access and fax machine for use in her home office

• A bonus clause will be written into the contract. The terms and conditions will be negotiated and agreed upon within the first 90 days of her employment.

• At the end of each contract year, the board may, based on “exemplary performance,” purchase for Diaz up to one year of out-of-state service credit toward educational retirement.