LANCASTER, S.C. — Concerns have been raised over the disparity in salary between Lancaster County School District Superintendent Dr. Raashad Fitzpatrick and former superintendent Dr. Jonathan Phipps.
The Rev. AnThony Pelham, pastor at Faith, Hope & Victory Christian Church in Lancaster and leader of the Delegation for Minority Affairs, is questioning the salary stipend of both superintendents, as well as Phipps’ new consulting role that runs through June.
According to contract information Pelham’s organization received from the school district through a Freedom of Information request, Phipps’ ending salary as superintendent was listed at $254,972, with Fitzpatrick’s starting salary at $195,000.
“So often, when it comes to African American talent, we’re often the ones that are underpaid. That’s a problem because that’s the fight we’ve been having all of our lives. We have to work twice as hard to achieve what we achieved and when we get there, we get underpaid,” Pelham said, questioning whether the salary disparity is based on race. Phipps is white, and Fitzpatrick is Black.
Pelham also said he feels taxpayers’ money across Lancaster County is being misused by the district and believes that there needs to be honesty from the board.
Contract details
According to the contract, Phipps’ consultation role pays him $127,486 for six months until his official retirement on June 30, when he will also get a $127,486 lump sum severance payment.
Pelham also pointed out that as part of Phipps’ pay and benefits, his annuity contribution was 8%. He was allotted moving expenses up to $10,000 and an automobile allowance of $800 per month.
Fitzpatrick’s annuity contribution is 5%, according to his contract. His automobile allowance is $1,000 per month. He is allotted moving expenses up to $15,000 and a temporary housing reimbursement of $2,500 for up to six months.
In a statement to The Lancaster News, Fitzpatrick said his contract and Phipps’ contract were determined by the board separately and do not impact one another.
“Every superintendent negotiates their contract with the local school board. I agreed to the terms of my contract and Dr. Phipps agreed to the terms of his contract. Our contracts are mutually exclusive and one doesn’t impact the other,” Fitzpatrick said. “I am grateful for my contract and the opportunity to serve and lead in the Lancaster County School District.”
Severance package
Pelham also wants to know why the board decided to pay Phipps a severance package totaling $254,972. He said that money could have been used for projects listed in the district’s $588 million bond.
“They (the school board) owe the community transparency and they owe them an explanation as to why they have used taxpayer dollars to pay a former superintendent that said he was retiring. Tell us why and what special projects he’s working on that justify him being paid this,” Pelham said.
Verta Looper, an Indian Land resident who volunteers at county schools with her Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, feels that without the reasoning for these decisions, it will affect citizens’ trust with the school district.
“It’s very frustrating because it affects the trust level of community residents, period. That is what leads to apathy,” Looper said.
Phipps speaks out
Phipps offered some clarity on the situation last week, saying that when he announced his retirement at the March 21, 2023, school board meeting, he offered his own time to help his successor enjoy success in the superintendent chair.
The board agreed to do a six-month severance package payout to end his contract two years early.
“I said I would be willing to do six months and in that transitional period when they found a suitable replacement, I would be more than happy to do anything I could to help the new superintendent be successful,” Phipps said.
He said that when it comes to the transition between superintendents, it’s up to the board as to how that transition looks overall. Phipps also said that it’s not uncommon for school districts to provide a smooth transition period between former and future superintendents.
“Some districts hire a new superintendent and they call that person a ‘superintendent-in-waiting.’ The current superintendent would remain at the helm and continue to do the job and kind of train the replacement,” Phipps said.
“My pay stayed the same as my contract stipulates and I have been on call as needed from the superintendent or if the board has a question,” he said.
In his new consulting role, Phipps said he has been involved in projects throughout the district, including providing new character education decision programs offered by the Maxwell Institute for children across the district. He also has worked on the implementation of classroom tools and providing assistance to Fitzpatrick on the district’s budget.
“My contract, which is a legally binding contract, gave me a job with LCSD for two more years. I agreed to leave in July and if I would’ve left early, it would break the contract I had with the board,” Phipps said.
Regarding differences between his contract and Fitzpatrick’s, Phipps also said both were determined by the board. While he understands the concerns over Fitzpatrick’s salary, he believes Fitzpatrick will be compensated well over time.
“I know that my salary when I came back was about $45,000 less than what the salary is for Dr. Fitzpatrick,” said Phipps, whose starting salary was $160,000 in 2017.
“My observation is that he started off better than what I started off. I’m sure seven years from now, his salary will be a lot more than it is now,” Phipps said.
In a speech he made at the March 19 school board meeting, Pelham also questioned how much closer Fitzpatrick’s salary is to the district’s chief operating officer. He said the difference between them was only $26,568, while the difference between Phipps and the COO was $86,540.
“They owe our new leader the respect of paying him a salary that is in alignment with the former (superintendent). They have given him a great task to fulfill with these schools that are failing and this bond referendum that is not equitable as it relates to both Black and brown and low-income kids in this community,” Pelham said.
The Lancaster News attempted to reach out to school board Chair Brad Small and Chief Financial Officer Jatana Norris for comment. All requests were referred back to Fitzpatrick’s short statement.
