School chief Ertl gets 4 percent raise

The Wauwatosa School Board approved a contract Monday for Superintendent Phil Ertl, with pay set at $163,738 for the 2012-13 school year, a 4 percent increase, School Board President Michael Meier said. The contract extends through the 2013-14 school year, but pay for the second year has not been set, Ertl said.

Ertl's salary last year was $157,440, according to state Department of Public Instruction data. The state data also shows a fringe benefit package for last year valued at $41,662. Human Resources Director Dan Chanen said Ertl's benefits for this school year are roughly level with last year's.

Just a few years ago, fringe benefits for the superintendent were well above $50,000 annually. But, like all public employees, the superintendent has been required by state law to contribute to his pension plan. That, and a new high-deductible insurance plan with lower premiums, brought costs down.

Ertl was hired as superintendent in July 2005. His salary in 2006 was reported at $136,000, according to DPI figures. Wauwatosa school teachers this year received a raise in pay averaging 2.08 percent. The highest raises were 3.75 percent.