FUHSD superintendent receives salary boost

Rick Monroe

Special to the Village News

Trustees of the Fallbrook Union High School District authorized a $7,712.64 pay increase for Superintendent Ilsa Gonzalez-Garza for the 2022-23 school year at their July 11 board meeting.

Gonzalez-Garza’s salary will increase to $200,528 in the first year of a four-year agreement negotiated by the board following several closed session meetings and a successful performance evaluation on June 27. She has been superintendent since July 1, 2019.

Board President Eddie Jones and Vice President Diane Summers both commented during this month’s board meeting that the raise was well deserved. The board voted unanimously to approve the amendment to the employment agreement, with board member Lita Tabish not present.

As outlined in the four-year revised contract for the superintendent, she will receive $206,544 in 2023-24, $213,773 in 2024-25 and $222,324 in 2025-26. Each increase is 4 percent.

This is the third amendment to her employment contract. Under the agreement, there shall be no salary increase in the event of unsatisfactory performance, as determined by the governing board. The board may, with the mutual consent of the superintendent, adjust the superintendent’s base salary at any time.

The amendment states that Garza-Gonzalez may be eligible to receive bonus incentive pay, should she make significant progress and/or meet the goals and objectives that are set. The determination of eligibility for the bonus is at the discretion of the board.

It also provides the superintendent with insurance benefits offered to other district management-level employees. The retirement benefits vesting schedule applicable to the Superintendent shall be the same as that available to certificated bargaining unit members.

Garza-Gonzalez earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish Language in 1990 and Masters in Spanish Literature in 1993, both from the University of California, Riverside. She earned her single subject teaching and her administrative credentials from Brandman University.

Garza-Gonzalez has over 25 years of educational experience ranging from elementary school to both community colleges and four-year universities. Most of her experience has been at the high school level which she refers to as her passion and her home.