What is the salary of a school board member?

The Manchester Enterprise has received numerous inquiries from readers asking how much members of the Clay County Board of Education are paid for their service.

To answer that question, The Enterprise contacted Clay County Schools Finance Director Kristi Curry.

Curry said board members receive $150 gross for each meeting or qualifying training session they attend. The compensation amount is established by the Kentucky General Assembly.

Until a few years ago, board members received $75 per meeting before the legislature increased the amount to $150. Curry said the net pay after deductions is approximately $137 per meeting.

The Clay County Board of Education typically meets twice each month. A work session is generally held on the last Monday of the month, with the regular monthly meeting held on the first Monday.

Based on that typical schedule of 24 meetings per year.  A board member attending the 24 regularly scheduled meetings would earn approximately $3,600 gross annually. Based on the approximately $137 net payment per meeting reported by the district's finance director, take-home compensation would be about $3,288 annually. Individual federal and state income-tax withholding can vary depending on each member's personal tax circumstances.

There are also times throughout the year when a special-called meeting may be necessary. Those meetings are held periodically as issues arise, but there is no set schedule for them.

Board members are also required to complete annual training through the Kentucky School Boards Association, with the number of required training hours based on years of service.

Curry said two current Clay County board members are required to complete eight hours of training because of their years of continued service, while the other three members are required to complete four hours.

Board members receive $150 gross for qualifying training sessions they attend.

The compensation is attendance-based. If a board member does not attend a scheduled meeting, he or she does not receive the $150 payment for that meeting.  

Board members also do not receive any benefits such as retirement or health insurance.

Unlike a traditional salaried position, therefore, the amount a Clay County school board member receives during a year depends upon the number of regular, work session, special-called and qualifying training meetings the member actually attends.