Elected trustees in Edgewood Independent School District are coming under fire after extending the superintendent’s contract and increasing his salary despite a vast majority of its students failing academic performance.
Superintendent Eduardo Hernández’s contract was recently extended to 2029, and his salary was raised to $291,923 a year. The amount listed excludes the cost of any benefits, such as healthcare, retirement, and allowances.
While Hernández is being paid a large salary, Edgewood ISD earned a C rating on its latest assessment. Data also show that the district is failing a vast majority of its students based on its 2022 STAAR results.
The results show that only 23 percent of Edgewood ISD students can read, write, and do math at or above grade level. The statewide average is 48 percent.
Hernández was first hired by the district in 2018 to oversee the transition from the state’s takeover of the school board. He was hired for a three-year term with an annual salary of $205,000 and a $1,000 monthly allowance. Since he started, Hernández has received two pay raises, additional retirement benefits, and opportunities for extra compensation for reaching goals on attendance and achievement metrics.
His latest salary increase came by a near-unanimous vote of the board of trustees. The lone trustee to vote against the increase was Michael Valdez—a frequent critic of the superintendent.
Valdez said he dissented because of the district’s budget constraints and due to the contract including money for Hernández’ insurance and other benefits. He said, “It would be more prudent to address the needs of our district employees first.”
The Texas Public Policy Foundation found that multiple school districts in the San Antonio area have superintendents who are paid less than $291,000—and some are paid much less.
According to the Texas Education Agency’s superintendent salary database for the 2023-2024 school year, the following salaries of other superintendents in the area are:
- Alamo Heights ISD – $270,000
- Fort Sam Houston ISD – $200,000
- Harlandale ISD – $257,541
- Judson ISD – $265,000
- Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD – $279,191
- Somerset ISD – $200,000
- South San Antonio ISD – $270,000
- Southside ISD – $278,204
- Southwest ISD – $271,950
The data did show that the only districts in the area that pay their superintendents more than Hernández are Northside ISD ($350,000), San Antonio ISD ($334,183), and East Central ISD ($306,476).
TPPF Policy Director James Quintero told Texas Scorecard that these school administrators should not be making high salaries while failing at their jobs.
“It’s unthinkable that public school employees are raking in President of the United States-level salaries. It’s indefensible that they’re earning as much while failing badly at their jobs,” said Quintero. “Every dollar sopped up by the administrative class is a dollar that’s not available for the classroom. That’s why this matters most.”
“It’s time to get control of education spending,” he added.
