The CSBA board of directors took numerous steps to ensure that the salary of the association’s new executive director was set at an appropriate level. The board utilized four independent data sources in making its determination.

First, the board reviewed compensation surveys from two national associations:

National School Boards Association survey of salaries and benefits
This survey provides salary and benefit data for the executive directors and other top executives from state school boards associations throughout the nation that comprise NSBA’s membership.

American Society of Association Executives 2010 Compensation Survey
This comprehensive survey conducted by ASAE provides compensation data for non-profit organizations across the country, in many different categories.

The board also engaged Koff & Associates, a human resources consulting firm based in Emeryville, to conduct a compensation study for the position of executive director. This study was based on eight comparator agencies that were deemed to be appropriate comparison agencies for CSBA. Because the participation of these agencies was predicated on confidentiality, the specific names cannot be released. However, the comparators included similar statewide membership organizations in California, as well as a state school boards association that is within the national comparison group established by NSBA.

Finally, the board engaged outside counsel to analyze these three sources of data to make a recommendation for what would constitute an appropriate range of compensation. Counsel reviewed the salary ranges that are currently in place for the executive directors of the comparator agencies, and recommended a range for CSBA to utilize for a candidate coming into the position. The amount arrived at in negotiations with Billy fell squarely within this range.

 Click here for more information on CSBA's new Executive Director Vernon Billy.