Cedar Rapids school board extends superintendent’s contract

The Cedar Rapids school board approved a one percent salary increase for Superintendent Dave Benson during a closed meeting Monday night.

Board members also agreed to extend Benson's employment agreement by one year.

Benson, 59, was hired as the district's superintendent of schools in December 2008, replacing Dave Markward who retired at the end of the 2008-09 school year.

“We think Dave's doing a really good job,” said Melissa Kiliper-Ernst, school board president. “He came in at a difficult time and has worked to move the district forward.”

Benson's first day on the job, actually the day before his first official day on the job, was spent attending the first of three public forums regarding the district's flood recovery process on June 30, 2009.

“He stepped into the fire and got right to work,” Kiliper-Ernst said.

On Monday, Benson celebrated the ceremonial groundbreaking of the new District Services Center. The facility will replace district buildings damaged in the June 2008 flood.

Benson's salary for the 2010-11 school year will be $199,980. His new contract begins July 1 and ends on June 30, 2013.