The Chilliwack school district got one superintendent for the price of two for four months last year, according to a report on executive compensation released this month.

The report indicates former superintendent Corinne McCabe was fully paid for four months after she retired on July 31, 2011 and while interim superintendent Michael Audet was already on the job.

In total, McCabe took home more than $103,343.51 in wages, benefits and bonuses from the Chilliwack school district in 2011-12 despite having worked only one month into the fiscal year.

The executive compensation report—required by the provincial government every December—indicates McCabe was paid $11,076 in salary as well as an additional $48,738.45 in wages for a “pre-retirement leave” from Aug. 1, 2011 to Nov. 30, 2011.

The school board agreed to pay for the extra quarter year of wages as a matter of timing, according to secretary-treasurer Maureen Carradice.

McCabe had announced in May 2011 that she planned to retire effective Nov. 30, 2011, but the school board wanted a new superintendent in place by August in time to deal with looming operational issues like teacher collective bargaining and possible teacher job action.

“The parties agreed that [McCabe’s] last day of work would be July 31, as that made more sense operationally,” Carradice told the Times. “The board agreed to continue the superintendent’s salary for the balance of the retirement notice period.”

In 2011-12, the former superintendent also took home a $14,400 retirement bonus (called “service recognition” in the district’s executive compensation policy) and a year’s worth of vehicle allowance at $6,023.18 as well as a $2,769.23 payout for unused vacation days.

Pension ($8,870.58) employer-paid CPP, EI benefit premiums and employer-paid health and welfare premiums made up the balance.

Districts are required to report annually on compensation paid to chief executive officers and the next four highest paid or ranking executives who make an annual base salary of $125,000 or more.

In Chilliwack, four district officials fit that bill in 2011-2012.

Secretary-treasurer Maureen Carradice topped the list with $161,069.36 in total compensation, a nearly $10,000 jump from last year because of changes in benefit premiums and her promotion from human resources director to secretary treasurer, she said.

Assistant superintendent Arul-Pragasam was the district’s second highest earner at $155,890.38.

Interim superintendent Michael Audet, who served as the district’s top exec from McCabe’s retirement at the end of July 2011 until one month after current superintendent Evelyn Novak took over in mid August, made $151,133.16 last year for 11 months on the job.

Retired assistant superintendent Ruth Wiebe rounded out the list at $110,034.20, $18,477.80 of which was designated as a “retirement allowance.”

To see the district report and compare Chilliwack to other B.C. school districts, visit www.fin.gov.bc.ca/psec/disclosure/disclosure11-12.htm.

cnaylor@chilliwacktimes.com