The Alabama State Board of Education has approved a new contract for State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey, extending his tenure through April 2029 and raising his salary from $292,500 to $325,000. The vote passed with majority support on Thursday, with only District 1 board member Jackie Zeigler voting against it.
The original proposal had called for a $90,000 raise, which would have brought Mackey’s salary to $380,000 and made him one of the highest-paid state superintendents in the nation. However, Mackey requested a reduction in the proposed increase following public scrutiny and concern from board members. The final contract sets his salary at $325,000—still significantly above Alabama’s average superintendent salary of $174,944.
Related: Alabama State Board of Education considers $90,000 raise for Superintendent Eric Mackey
Mackey began his tenure as state superintendent in 2018 with a starting salary of $245,000. The new contract retains several existing benefits, including a $1,750 monthly housing allowance, a state-issued vehicle, and a 3% annual raise provision. It also continues on a rolling three-year term, meaning the contract is automatically extended by one year each year unless terminated.
As superintendent, Mackey oversees Alabama’s 154 K-12 public school districts, serving more than 750,000 students and employing over 100,000 personnel. His duties include allocating state funding, ensuring compliance with education laws, and directing policy development across the system.
During a previous work session in March, several board members requested more time to evaluate the proposed contract, citing the importance of the decision. Some, including Wayne Reynolds, clarified that their concerns were procedural rather than related to Mackey’s performance.
Vice President Tonya Chestnut argued that 30 days provided adequate time for review, while Yvette Richardson noted that some local superintendents earn more than Mackey despite his broader responsibilities.
While the new salary is substantial, Mackey’s compensation remains below that of several other Alabama education leaders. For instance, the chancellor of the Alabama Community College System is set to earn more than $550,000 in 2025, and the director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education earned nearly $400,000 in 2024.
Zeigler, the lone dissenting vote, criticized the process, saying the final draft of the contract was only made available to board members the evening before the vote. She expressed frustration with the procedures but emphasized her continued support for Mackey’s leadership.
Mackey recently received a performance evaluation score of 4.51 out of 5, the highest in the last four years. Supporters of the contract extension cited improved student outcomes during his tenure as justification for the raise and continued leadership.
Although the board’s vote finalizes the contract terms, discussions indicated a desire for more transparency in future negotiations. Chestnut has called for the development of written guidelines to standardize superintendent contract renewals going forward.
A video of the April 10 board meeting is available via live stream here.
Sherri Blevins is a writer for Mountain Valley News and a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
