California's schools chief has a $200,000 salary and a Bay Area side gig
Briefly

California's Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond, holds a side job that, while legal, is atypical for his position. Over his six-year tenure, no other statewide officer has reported outside compensation during service. Thurmond claims the additional income is crucial for supporting his children and relatives with health issues, arguing the official salary of about $210,460 is insufficient. He maintains that the side jobs do not interfere with his duties and see no conflict of interest, citing his extensive experience in social services as indicative of his commitment to education.
Thurmond's arrangement, though unusual for a statewide office, is legal under California law, marking a stark contrast to his predecessors' practices.
Thurmond justified his outside earnings for supporting his children and family members' health needs, stating the official salary was insufficient.
Despite inquiries, Thurmond insisted that the side jobs had no impact on his responsibilities as Superintendent and indicated no conflict of interest.
He expressed that his previous experiences in social services positioned him well for his current role, emphasizing his commitment to his work.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
[
|
]