WO’s Martin Tops in Local School District Leader Compensation List

MIDLAND. MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – The operational leader of the Lakeshore’s biggest school district by enrollment is also tops in another category.

In the latest update to its Michigan Superintendent Compensation Database released on Wednesday, the Midland-based conservative think tank Mackinac Center for Public Policy has West Ottawa Public Schools Superintendent Tom Martin as the highest-compensated leader among districts in the Holland/Zeeland Area. Now in his 10^th year at the helm since coming from Kenowa Hills in 2011, Martin’s total package of $383,929 dollars is third highest statewide for a single superintendent, and the Panthers are the fifth highest overall, as two other districts have multiple school chiefs.

The Ottawa County Intermediate School District, who is searching for a new leader following the summer retirement announcement of Pete Haines, is second locally at $346,871, according to the Mackinac Center.

The other local superintendents, with their statewide rankings:

• Zeeland’s Cal DeKuiper (46^th, $288,529)

• Hamilton’s Dave Tebo (72^nd, $259,753)

• Holland’s Brian Davis (88^th, $250,305)

• Saugatuck’s Tim Travis (291^st, $183,960)

• Fennville’s Jim Greydanus (355^th, $172,461)

In a statement, Ben DeGrow, director of education policy at the Mackinac Center, explained why his group compiled this listing: “This makes it easier to compare how different Michigan districts are spending resources on the leaders their boards have chosen.”