Esambia School Board Approves $172,250 Contract With Superintendent Keith Leonard

February 21, 2024

Tuesday night, the Escambia County School board unanimously approved a contract with Superintendent Keith Leonard.

He will be paid a base annual salary of $172,250 plus benefits. The contract will be in place through June 30, 2027, unless the board extends the contract for an additional 18 months on or before December 30, 2025. If the board takes no action by December 30, 2025, the contract will automatically extend for additional 18 months. He can be terminated at any time without cause before June 30, 2027, by a majority vote of the school board.

The board voted unanimously in January to begin contract negotiations with Leonard to become their permanent superintendent.

Leonard took over June 1, 2022 after the board voted 3-2 in May 2022 to terminate former Superintendent Tim Smith. Leonard, previously the assistant superintendent of human resources, was the runner-up in the selection process with Smith was hired in 2020. As interim, he was paid the equivalent of $160,000 annually plus $500 per month for automobile expenses and $200 a month for business expenses. That contract was set to end June 30, 2024.

In January, Leonard was rated as “highly effective” by the school board before being named permanent.

Comments

6 Responses to “Esambia School Board Approves $172,250 Contract With Superintendent Keith Leonard”

  1. Susan Chambers on March 8th, 2024 5:46 pm

    Congratulations Keith Leonard! Well deserved. Mr. Leonard is what we need. Objective, open-minded, and willing to listen to all sides of an issue before making a decision. With that, putting the students first as well as making sure people are treated kindly and with respect to include all employees in the District. Kudos Keith Leonard!

  2. Kyle on February 22nd, 2024 8:57 am

    Well The school board can do something right after all…
    Congratulations Mr Leonard…

  3. Give me a break on February 21st, 2024 11:24 pm

    I was a couple of years behind Mr. Leonard at Tate High and I believe he can meet the challenge and high expectations of this assignment.

    I don’t envy him, though.

    Always do the right thing with integrity, and you’ll never have to regret anything.

    Best of luck, Keith.

  4. G m hazlewood on February 21st, 2024 6:04 pm

    I don’t think it’s enough.

  5. Bonnie Exner on February 21st, 2024 2:58 pm

    Congratulations on your full time appointment to lead ESCAMBIA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS to EXCELLENCE once again!!

  6. Anne on February 21st, 2024 12:04 pm

    VERY Pleased that Mr. Leonard is OUR Superintendent of Schools.
    Thank You, Mr. Leonard for taking on this huge responsibility.
    We feel the salary + benefits is Well Earned.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News