Pajaro Valley Unified School District trustees on Wednesday will consider creating a new deputy superintendent position and approving a three-year contract for the role.
The district says the new position would replace the assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and professional development position, which tops out at step 7 on the salary schedule at $194,178 annually.
If approved, longtime administrator Mark Herbst would fill the position with a salary of $228,000, plus a $6,270 stipend for a master’s degree and benefits. His contract would run through June 2029.
According to his LinkedIn page, Herbst currently serves as associate superintendent of student support services with Modesto City Schools.
The Pajaronian reached out late Friday to district officials and Board President Carol Turley for comment.
District officials say the proposed position would consolidate oversight of curriculum, instruction, human resources and finance under a single cabinet-level administrator reporting directly to Superintendent Heather Contreras.
According to the proposed job description, the deputy superintendent would serve as the superintendent’s primary adviser and act as chief executive in her absence.
Contreras currently earns roughly $290,000 annually, in addition to medical benefits and a $600 monthly vehicle allowance.
The discussion will be immediately followed by a resolution finalizing layoffs for 60 certificated employees, including teachers and counselors, and roughly 50 classified employees, including instructional assistants and mental health clinicians.
•••The PVUSD Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. in the District Office boardroom, 294 Green Valley Road in Watsonville. For information, visit bit.ly/4ePwoTd
