PORTAGE (WKZO-AM) — The superintendent of Portage Public Schools is now one of the top-paid public school officials in Michigan.
Michael Van Beek with the Mackinac Center for Public Policy says Mark Bielang’s three percent raise to $201,000 places him firmly in the upper tier, but he’s not shocked by that.
“Portage is a relatively large school district and school districts of a similar size pay their superintedents close to that amount as well,” Van Beek said.
Michael Rice with Kalamazoo Public Schools remains the state’s top-paid superintendent. Van Beek says Rice’s $215,000 salary might have played a role when Portage trustees agreed to Bielang’s bump.
“The amount that superintendents get paid is influenced by what their peers are getting paid in nearby districts,” Van Beek said.
Trustees said they awarded the raise, in part, because of Bielang’s work leading up to last month’s successful bond election.
– Anthony Pollreisz
