Lake Worth Independent School District’s board of managers approved a multi‑year contract for Superintendent Ena Meyers that begins April 23, 2026 and runs through June 30, 2030. The agreement provides a base salary of $240,000 per year, a figure that exceeds the $222,000 base paid to former superintendent Mark Ramirez by $18,000.
Additional compensation and retirement benefits
Beyond the base salary, the contract adds an 11% supplemental payment—about $26,400—that Meyers may place in a retirement account or receive as cash. The district will also cover retirement contributions that would otherwise be deducted from her paycheck, further increasing her total annual compensation to at least $266,400 before any performance incentives or other benefits.
Performance‑based extensions and bonuses
The agreement includes an automatic one‑year extension each February 1 if Meyers receives a high rating on her annual superintendent evaluation, unless the board provides written notice to the contrary. A separate performance incentive plan, still to be detailed by December 1, will tie additional bonuses to the district’s progress on specific goals such as third‑ and eighth‑grade math and reading scores and college, career, and military readiness metrics.
Vacation and other terms
Meyers will receive 20 vacation days each contract year and may be paid for up to 15 unused days at year‑end. The contract also guarantees that she will receive the same percentage raises given to other district administrators and any one‑time payments approved for them.
Board perspective
Board President Tom Harris said the compensation reflects market rates needed to attract strong leadership during the Texas Education Agency’s state intervention. “You’ve got to pay your superintendent market rates in order to make something happen,” Harris explained. He added that the board will hold Meyers accountable for improving student performance, using interim academic data and regular reviews to track progress.
Superintendent’s focus
In a statement, Meyers emphasized that her attention is on the work ahead rather than the contract’s length or pay. She said she intends to build a solid foundation for teaching and learning, support educators and campus leaders, strengthen systems, and create conditions for every student to succeed.
Comparison to prior contracts
Ramirez’s three‑year contract, approved in May 2025, did not include the 11% supplemental payment or a performance bonus. His base salary was $222,000, and he earned additional pay for consulting work at $925 per day before the state takeover. Former superintendent Rose Mary Neshyba earned a $208,060 base salary with $19,442.48 in longevity pay, totaling $227,502.48 per year. Meyers’ base salary is $31,940 higher than Neshyba’s.
Accountability measures
The board plans to use the district’s 2026 STAAR results as a baseline and monitor progress toward the agreed‑upon goals throughout the year, rather than waiting for end‑of‑year results. Harris likened the approach to a business tracking quarterly targets.
Lake Worth ISD communications director Noah Ceballos said the contract was crafted with both predecessor compensation and the “unique leadership responsibilities” of the state intervention in mind, noting that performance‑based components reflect the expectation of measurable academic gains.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
