The Jeffco school board approved a three-year contract for new superintendent Tracy Dorland to begin Monday.
The contract will give Dorland a starting salary of $260,000.
The board voted unanimously on the contract Wednesday, after naming Dorland the sole finalist for the position more than two weeks ago. The position was vacated last fall by former superintendent Jason Glass when he left to take a state commissioner job in Kentucky.
Kristopher Schuh, who has served as interim superintendent, has said at board meetings that he did not apply for the position, and Wednesday praised the board for selecting Dorland.
Dorland comes to Jeffco’s top job having most recently served as deputy superintendent in the nearby Adams 12 school district.
She spoke briefly after the vote, thanking the school board for the job.
“The emotion that comes to me constantly is gratitude,” she said. “Gratitude for the people and the experiences I’ve had in my past who’ve helped me become the leader I am, but mostly gratitude for the opportunity to serve my home community as superintendent. You know, my children are here. I raised my family here. I grew up here. This is a very special place.”
Members of the leadership team also praised the board for the selection of Dorland, and noted that she has already reached out to all of them and started conversations about what they see as priorities in the district.
When Glass was hired in 2017, coming to Jeffco from a superintendent position in Eagle County, he was offered a starting salary of $265,000.
Dorland’s contract allows for annual raises, only when or if district administrators also receive a raise.
