(The Center Square) – Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Brent Jones will soon begin negotiations with the school board for a revised contract renewal.

Jones’ contract is set to expire on June 30. The Seattle School Board unanimously approved an authorization to negotiate the revised employee contract with Jones for the superintendent position during its board meeting on Wednesday night.

Jones’ initial contract sets an annual base salary of $335,000. As part of the negotiations, discussions with Jones will determine whether to increase the annual salary for next year.

Jones’ salary in the 2022-2023 school year was $334,998, according to the most recent data from the state. In comparison, 19 superintendents at other school districts in Washington made more that year. Ridgefield School District Superintendent Nathan Mccann was the highest paid Washington public school employee with a salary of $544,334 in the 2022-2023 school year. Mccann’s salary that school year was a 137.34% increase from his 2021-2022 salary of $229,339.

In the past 30 years, Seattle Public Schools has experienced frequent turnover of superintendents. One superintendent served for five years, two served for four years each, and the others served for less than four years. Jones took over during the 2021-2022 school year.

“Dr. Jones is a highly sought-after leader in education and should be compensated as such, in both salary and commitment,” the school board action report states.

The maximum contract term allowed under state law is three years.

If Jones and the school board reach an agreement, they will continue the task of handling a $104 million budget deficit that has caused the district to discuss the consolidation of 70 elementary schools into 50 in the 2025-2026 school year.