Local First Twin Bridges Edition 102722

cappella

101” Classes

ALBANY - Do you like to sing? Ever wonder what A cappella singing is all about? Would you like to improve your singing? Would you like to perform in front of a live audience? If you answered YES to any of these questions then these FREE classes are for you! Capitaland Chorus is holding a series of A cappella 101 classes this fall. Classes will be held on Tuesdays, November 1, 8 and 15 from 6:30-7:30 P.M. with the ultimate goal of having guests perform with us in our upcoming Holiday Show! Classes will be held at Pine Grove Unit ed Methodist Church, 1580 Central Avenue Albany NY 12205. Topics covered will

Colonie business seals ‘Shark Tank’ deal

By MELISSA MANNO

COLONIE — Tracy Slocum, founder of Colo nie-based blanket and clothing business Pretty Rugged, made her debut on the popular reality TV show “Shark Tank” last Friday night where she successfully scored a deal from two of the celebrity investors.

The business owner made her pitch in front of the panel of investors known as the “sharks” in the episode that aired Friday at 8 p.m. on NBC. Slocum accepted $200,000 from sharks Robert Herjavec and Lori Greiner in exchange for a 25 percent stake in her company, which produces waterproof and windproof blankets and other durable clothing items.

Since launching in 2017, Pretty Rugged has grown into a multimillion-dollar company and sold more than 30,000 units of its flagship product. The 48-year-old entrepreneur ended her elevator pitch seeking $200,000 in ex change for a 10 percent stake in the company.

Slocum shared the story of her great-great-grandfather, Capt. Joshua Slocum, the first man to circumnavigate the globe alone by sailboat, from whom she drew inspira tion in creating her product. “His trailblazing spirit is sewn into everything I do,” she said.

The investors were thoroughly impressed with Slocum’s background and the company’s sales, which she said were at 715,000 already for this year and nearly 3 million over its lifetime. Despite a profit margin of 80 percent for retail and 70 percent for wholesale, Slocum told investors that she netted only $32,000 last year — a figure that sparked confusion and hesitation from the investors.

“The inefficiencies are crazy because your margins are what they are; even your whole sale margins are good,” said guest shark Emme Grede, who co-founded Good American along side Khloe Kardashian.

Slocum explained the net profit levels as

being due to supply chain issues, high tariffs from China where the products are manufactured and the cost of trade shows, which she said can cost between $15,000 to $30,000. This year alone, Slocum said the business is participating in 20 shows.

“I need a person that can help me, I know I’m not doing everything right,” Slocum said, emphasizing her skill at selling the product and willingness to learn more efficient financial planning strategies.

Grede, Mark Cuban and Kevin O’Leary declined to make offers, leaving the fate of the women-owned and -operated business to Robert Herjavec and Lori Greiner.

“Your margins are fantastic, you obviously have done a great job at sourcing,” Greiner said. “Robert and I both love you and love the product so we thought he can help you with the financial end of it and I can help you with the sales and marketing end of it and we would make a good team here.”

The pair offered her $200,000 for 25 percent stake in the company, with Slocum counterof fering a 20 percent stake instead.

“We feel pretty good about the offer,” Herja vec replied. “Come on, we’re going to blow this up.”

Slocum, a lifelong fan of the show, then got to deliver the iconic, signature line to mark her success: “You got a deal!”

In an interview earlier this month, Slocum told the Times Union that making the pitch in front of the investors was one of the most challenging experiences of her life, but she also said being chosen for the show that attracts millions of viewers worldwide was a great op portunity to build exposure for her brand.

COURTESY OF PRETTY RUGGED Tracy Slocum, 48, founder of Pretty Rugged and a lifelong fan of the show "Shark Tank,” got to deliver the iconic, signature line to mark her success: “You got a deal!”

“This is the American dream; this is what I came here for,” Slocum said after accepting the offer. “I thought I would get a shark, but to get two sharks and to have them see me, what I re ally feel and love the product, was everything.”

How well-paid is your school superintendent?

From public districts to charters, a look at data around Capital Region

By KATHLEEN MOORE

ALBANY — Once again, Shenendehowa school district’s long-serving superintendent, L. Oliver Robinson, has topped the list of superinten dent salaries in the Capital Region.

He makes 27 percent more than the next-closest superintendent, John Carmello of Troy.

Of the superintendents with the top five salaries, three are from sub urbs: Shenendehowa, Burnt Hills Ballston Lake and Guilderland. Sche nectady City Schools came in at number three. Albany City Schools’ superintendent, who is leaving in January, had the sixth-highest salary.

The lowest-paid full-time superintendent is also in Albany, at the Henry Johnson Charter School, one of the region’s publicly funded, privately run schools.

Dustin Mitchell made $60,000 in 2021, according to IRS documenta tion.

Also at the bottom of the list is the only part-time superintendent in the region, North Green-bush superintendent Sally Shields, who makes $30,000. Her school district is one building, serving grades K-2.

The Times Union collected salary data from 47 schools, including charter schools, in the Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga and Rensselaer counties. Just two small, rural school districts did not provide data. Most districts provided current-year data; for a few, including charter schools, only 2021 data was available.

Superintendents are the chief operating officer of a school district, hired by and in charge of implementing policies set by the school board. In some very small districts, typically with one building, the CEO might hold a shared job title of principal and superintendent. But usually, the principal serves as the day-to-day manager of teachers and students, while the superintendent takes charge of polit ical duties: lobbying the state for funding, joining efforts for curriculum change and planning for the future with each year’s proposed budget.

Locally, their salaries appear to have

no connection to the size of the schools or the district’s budget. Among the top five highest-paid superintendents, sala ries as a percent of the current budget ranged from nearly three-10ths of 1 percent (Burnt Hills Ballston Lake) to not even one-10th of 1 percent (Schenectady and Albany). Edinburg, in Saratoga County, for instance, has one of the lowest-paid public school district superintendents by dollar amount, but one of the high est-paid as a percentage of the overall district budget, at 3 percent.

Generally, school boards set the salary based on the pay of other superintendents in the region, said New York State School Boards Asso ciation spokesman David Albert.

“A lot of this is regional. So if you look at certain areas of the state, Long Island and Westchester tend to have the higher salaries, and that is where you see higher cost of living,” he said. “The salaries are also going to be based on demand. If there’s a lot of superintendent turnover and a lot of districts looking for superintendents, especially in the same region, there’s definitely going to be an increase in the sticker price.”

Many superintendents are retiring this year, including several in the Capital Region.

Supply and demand

The pay really bears little relation to the difficulty of the work, said John Yagielski, who has served as interim superintendent at numerous school districts in the region.

He has overseen Greece schools — a large suburban district outside Rochester — and Shenendehowa, as well as Schenectady and a stint in Niskayuna.

He and other superintendents, echoing the school board’s associa tion’s assessment, said that to some extent superintendent salaries are a matter of supply and demand. There are few people certified to run a school district, and willing to run one. A handful of retired superinten

COURTESY OF PRETTY RUGGED Tracy Slocum, founder of Pretty Rugged, a Colonie-based business that produces waterproof blankets and other durable clothing items, made a successful pitch last Friday on “Shark Tank,” which aired last Friday on ABC.

SKIP DICKSTEIN / SPECIAL TO THE TIMES UNION Shenendehowa School District Superintendent L. Oliver Robinson is still the highest-paid superintendent in the Capital Region.

Soroptimists Offering $5,000 “Live Your Dream” award

SARATOGA COUNTY

- Women who are provid ing the primary source of financial support for their families while pursu ing their education are encouraged to apply for the Soroptimist “Live Your Dream” award.

Soroptimist Interna tional of Saratoga County, a volunteer organization for business and profes sional women, is offering grants up to $5,000 for any costs related to pursuing an education. The firstplace award recipient is also eligible for additional awards at the regional and international Soroptimist levels.

Eligible applicants must:

· Demonstrate financial need

· Be accepted or enrolled in an undergraduate or vocational skills training program

· Live in or near Saratoga County

Applications must be

submitted by Nov. 15, 2022 . For more infor mation and a link to the online application go to: https://www.soroptimist. org/our-work/live-yourdream-awards/applyfor-the-live-your-dreamawards.html.

For assistance with the application process, e-mail liveyourdreamsaratoga@ gmail.com with questions or to request a mentor.

Research on the impact of the “Live Your Dream” Award has shown that investing in educational opportunities for women results in a “multiplier” ef fect for their families and communities. Not only does this program enable women to secure higher paying employment and a raised standard of living, it increases the likelihood that their children will obtain an education and secure a future of eco nomic independence and success.

For more information: www.soroptimistsaratoga. org.

New Start

Waterford Museum Winter Lecture Series

WATERFORD - KICK OFF LECTURE by Russ VanDervoort: Oh Those Nolan Girls, Pretty & Poisonous! Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 7pm Van Schaick Island Country Club

Admission $10 a person

The Waterford Histori cal Museum and Cultural Center is hosting its annual Winter Lecture Series at the Van Schaick Island Country Club.

Join us for a series of fun and educational lectures on local topics the second Tuesdayof the month for the months of November, December (12/13), January (1/10) and March (3/14). Our kickoff lecture is presented by Russ VanDervoort, Waterford Town Historian.

Dinner is available for separate purchase at Max 410 (additional purchase not required to attend lecture).

Murder at Cherry Hill: A Harrowing Walk Through a Historic Evening

ALBANY - On May 7, 1827, a notorious murder occurred at Cherry Hill that resulted in two sensa tional trials and Albany’s last public hanging…His toric Cherry Hill invites the public to come relive that night! Visitors will meet the historical play ers, walk in the footsteps of a murderer- played by actor James Keil- and revel in harrowing titil lation during this annual October event. The tour is recommended for patrons 12 years and up.

The program will be offered Wednesday thru Saturday, October 2629, 2022 . Tours begin at 5:30 and 7 pm each night.

General admission is $20, members pay $15. Res ervations are required. Tickets are available at eventbrite.com. Members of Historic Cherry Hill should contact info@ historiccherryhill.org to receive the promo code.

Covid-19 Protocols: Masks are suggested indoors for all visitors regardless of vaccination status. These guidelines are subject to change ac cording to the latest CDC and NYS Dept of Health recommendations for Al bany County. For the most recent protocols, please contact the museum prior to the event.

Historic Cherry Hill is a historic house museum at 523 ½ South Pearl Street in Albany, NY, and the five-generation home of the Van Rensselaer family from 1787-1963. For more information, visit our website at www.historic cherryhill.org.

SBA Upstate NY District Office Seeks Nominations for National Small Business Week 2023

CAPITAL DISTRICT - Do you or someone you know have what it takes to become America’s “Small Business Person of the Year” for 2023? If so, the U.S. Small Business Ad ministration (SBA) wants to hear from you.

The SBA is proud to announce that its Upstate New York District Office is ready to accept nomina tions for the 2023 Na tional and District Small Business Week Awards, including the annual Small Business Person of the Year Award.

Visit the SBA’s dedicated website at www.sba.gov/ nsbw to download forms, criteria, and guidelines for submitting a National nomination. The Upstate New York District Office

award categories and guidelines can be found here or on the district’s website: https://www.sba. gov/district/syracuse

The SBA Awards given in celebration of Nation al and District Small Business Week include the following:

Upstate New York Dis trict Small Business Week Categories:

Small Business Person of the Year (National and District)

Small Business Export er (National and District)

Minority Small Busi ness Champion or Busi ness of the Year

Veteran Small Business Champion or Business of the Year Women in Business Champion or Business of the Year

Rural Small Business Champion or Business of the Year

“I am pleased to expand our nomination catego ries for the 2023 National Small Business Week awards in Upstate New York and look forward to celebrating the hard work of our district’s entrepre neurs,” said SBA Upstate New York District Director Bernard J. Paprocki. “I encourage members of the small business community to nominate leaders with demonstrated success in business and an impact on their community.”

The Upstate New York District Office must receive all nominations by electronic submission ONLY to the District’s BOX account found at www.sba.gov/nsbw no lat er 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 8, 2022

To obtain additional in formation, please contact Katrina Ballard at Katrina. Ballard@sba.gov.

The Upstate New York District Office of the U.S. Small Business Adminis tration serves 34 counties in Upstate New York.

The

York’s

Distributed

To 180,000

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Jennifer Morrell 518-454-5513 jmorrell@timesunion.com

DESIGN DEPARTMENT

Roberta Mullins

Rick Mullins

CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT

Margaret Bunkoff 518-454-5503

Margaret.bunkoff@ timesunion.com classifieds@ crwnewspapers.com Fax: 518-454-5542

DISPLAY AD DEADLINE: Friday 4:00pm

CLASSIFIED AD DEADLINE: Monday 1:00pm Twin Bridges Edition Monday 1:00pm Saratoga North Edition

The Advertiser

Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The majority of the ads in this publication were created by and are the sole property of Local First and cannot be reproduced without express permission from the publisher.

Grief Hope and Healing Program at The Church of the Resurrection

HALMOON - The Church of the Resur rection is providing a program to support those who have suffered a loss. The program includes the following topics: Understanding your grief; Essential tools in coping with grief; and Working through the grieving process. This free program begins Nov. 4,2022, 6pm at the Halfmoon Town Hall. Pre-registration is required. Please contact us by our website @ crsarato ga.org. Leave your name, email andthe program name you are interested in. We will provide further information to you. You may call Dcn. Susan Plaske @ 518-869-0135. Pls leave a message with your con tact information.

Christ Child Society of Albany Drive-Through Book Drive

SCHENECTADY - One of the many objectives of the National Christ Child Society and its chapters is to promote literacy in children, and with many underserved families not having the means to provide books for their children, books are donat ed to families through a number of local sites for home use. Our pursuit for children’s gently-used, as well as new, books for all ages is an ongoing effort here locally with Christ Child Society of Albany Literacy Initiative.

This fall, as a nation wide Christ Child Society activity, the National organization is asking that

Basket Bingo

COHOES - Do you like playing bingo? Please join us on Sunday, November 6th at 1:00pm at St. Mi chael’s Church, Page Ave. in Cohoes.

Instead of winning cash prizes, you will win beau tiful prize baskets. Doors open at 11:30am. There will be food, desserts and beverages. For further information, please call Maria at 518 782-1203, Michelle at 518 235-3292 or Kathy 518-235-5286.

The church hall is hand icapped accessible. Come and have a fun afternoon. Under New York State law, you must be at least 18 years old in order to participate.

Empty Stocking Project Begins

SARATOGA COUNTY

- The Saratoga County Children’s Committee is a nonprofit organization that helps children and families in Saratoga Coun ty. The Empty Stocking Project provides holiday gifts and necessities to about 900 children and teens each year. Generous people and organizations sponsor a child by pur chasing gifts from the child’s “wish list”.

If you are willing to sponsor a child or for more information please call Kathy Kelly at 399-6629 or go to our website www. saratogachildrenscommit tee.org. Cash donations are always appreciated and may be sent to The Sara toga County Children’s Committee, P.O. Box 1254, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.

The Boys and Girls Club of Albany is Hosting an Adult Bible Study

ALBANY - Each Thursday at 6:00 P.M. The address is 21 Delaware Avenue. For further info please call 518-885-3149.

each of its chapters hold a Book Drive.  Christ Child Society of Albany will be holding a drive-through Book Drive on Saturday, November 5 from 10:00am to 1:00pm in the drive way in front of the Faith Formation Office on St. Madeleine Sophie Church property, 3500 Carman Road in Schenectady, NY.

Children’s board books, hard covered, paperbacks, picture books, early readers, chapter books and young adult books are welcomed.  Books in Spanish, Urdu, Mandarin Chinese and Arabic gladly accepted. Members will be available to accept donations.

Between Monday, October 31 and Friday, November 4, there will be covered bins on the front porch of the school as a collection point (which will be checked regularly).  We thank you in advance for your support.  Please contact Kathy Decatur by phone (518) 630-6226 or via email at kat5809dec@ aol.com with questions.

To Love a Child to Host 13th Annual Dinner and Awards Celebration.

Get on Your Feet!

CLIFTON PARK - To Love a Child, Inc. an nounces its 13th Annual Awards Dinner to be held on Friday, November 4, 2022 6:00pm at The Century House, 997 New Loudon Rd, Latham, NY. The Get on Your Feet Tropical themed event will feature the Circle of Love Awards presented to Infant Jesus of Prague, Jane Morrison, St. Paul Lutheran Church, and Vi ola Bramcamp. Come join us for a unique evening of fun and celebration and

help support our many programs for children and families.

Ticket prices are $125 per person for Patron tickets, $150 Honorary Committee, $175 for Super Honorary Committee, $75 per person for Students (age13-18) and Children (12&under) $25. Invitation and sponsor opportuni ties can be found on our website. RSVP kindly requested by October 24th, 2022

Learn more about the work we do in our local community, Haiti and Zimbabwe and how you can make a difference in the lives of severely impoverished children. Visit our website at www. toloveachild.net or call 518-859-4424.

Seeking Tax Assistance Volunteers

SARATOGA COUNTYTax-Aide, the free income tax assistance program sponsored by the AARP Foundation and the IRS, is seeking volunteers for the upcoming tax season at various sites in Saratoga, Warren & Washington, NY counties. You do not need to be an AARP member to volunteer.

Tax-Aide volunteers answer questions, pre pare and file returns for low to moderate income taxpayers and seniors from February 1st to April 15th, 2023. No experience is required, but computer experience is helpful for tax counseling.

Volunteers typically participate one or more days per week, with flexible schedules to accommodate volunteer availability. Volunteers who do not wish to prepare returns are also needed to

greet taxpayers, confirm appointments or provide computer support. Free IRS certified training is provided for all positions.

For more information on how you can join our team, contact District Communications Coor dinator Lorna Olivo at 518 309-8530 or email AARPTaxAideSaratoga@ gmail.com.

Q.U.I.L.T., Inc. Monthly Guild Meeting

DELMAR - Q.U.I.L.T., Inc. is a not-for-profit guild of quilters interested in learning about the art of making quilts. Members live in the Capital Region and surrounding commu nities. All levels of quilters are welcome. Meetings are held the second Friday of each month (Septem ber through June) at the Delmar Reformed Church (386 Delaware Ave, Del mar, NY.)

For the October meeting, a brief business meeting begins at 9:45 followed by a Lecture and Trunk Show by Marianne Hatton. All are welcome. Please join us.

Please visit our website https://www.quiltinc.org/ for more details.

Southern Saratoga Art Society’s Autumn Jewels Juried Art Show

SARATOGA COUNTYThe 25th Annual “Autumn Jewels” juried Art Show will be held at the Clifton Park Senior Community Center from Oct. 3 - Nov. 1, 2022 . This show is sponsored by Southern Saratoga Art Society and is open to all area artists. Entries will be judged and prizes awarded in both the

fine arts and photography. An award reception for all artists, families and friends will be held on Monday, October 24, 6:30 p.m., at the Senior Center. For rules, entry fees, entry forms and where to mail your entry, please visit: southernsaratogaartist. com or visit us on Facebook.

“Expanding” A Two Month Show and Sale of Eclectic Art in a Wide Variety of Media and Techniques.

ALBANY - Dozens of the area’s finest artists will be represented in this newly expanded gallery space.

Gallery hours MTWF 12-6, Thurs 12-8, Sat 10-3 or by appointment. Closed Sundays

Special “Meet-the-Art ists” night on Friday Octo ber 7th, 5:30-8pm. Event runs through November 28th

Art Associates Gallery 21 Railroad Avenue, Alba ny 12205. 518-459-1307

Care Links Presents Second Senior Resource Fair

CLIFTON PARK - Care Links, a program of CAP TAIN Community Human Services, will host the second Senior Resource Fair on Tues., Nov. 1st from 11:00am to 2:00pm at Shenendehowa United Methodist Church (Fel lowship Hall, Door F, 971 Route 146, Clifton Park, NY 12065).

The semiannual Senior Resource Fair offers local businesses and organiza tions the opportunity to connect with our com munity’s seniors and

share their programs and services.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information or to register as a vendor, please visit www.captaincares. org/seniorfair.

Music Company Orchestra is Performing Two Fall Concerts

CAPITAL DISTRICTConcert for Heroes Sat, Nov 5, 3pm –Saratoga Springs High School, benefit concert for Saratoga Co Volunteer Fire Depts, tickets $10 Pops at Clifton Park Sun, Nov 6, 2pm –Clifton Park Halfmoon Public Library, free concert

Celebrating 50 Years of the Festival of Nations

ALBANY - Longest running and most popular such Festival in our area is scheduled this year on Sunday, November 6th at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Al bany. It’s an extravaganza of dances, crafts and Foods from about 20 ethnic groups in our area. You can call it a TRIP AROUND THE WORLD in 5 hours. Our website is festival of nations.net

Limited number of Vendor Booths are still available. For details , call 518-371-3737.

There will be Miss Fes tival Pageant on that day too. It will be FUN for the whole family.

Tickets are still only $5 for adults and $2 for Children.

cept floor plans, and large windows without treatments. While each of those features are components of modern homes, just what qualifies as “modern” is ever-changing and often a reflection of what buyers are looking for. And lately, many buyers are looking for all-electric homes. A 2015 study by the U.S. Energy Information Admin istration found that the number of all-electric homes had increased over the previous decade. In fact, the EIA study found that 25 percent of homes in the United States used only electricity. All-electric homes are generally

considered more environmentally friendly because they lessen homeowners’ carbon footprint by reducing their need for fossil fuels like natural gas. Electric heat pumps, induction stoves and electric fireplaces are just some of the technologies that can be found in all-electric homes.

Though the design style of all-electric homes needn’t be modern, there’s no denying that the growing popular ity of such homes makes them an option for homeowners with modern sensibilities.

SUPERINTENDENT

1

dents continually rotate through the region, serving for a year or two as interim while districts search for their next leaders.

“It’s a tough job. It really is a demanding job. You’re al ways on duty,” Yagielski said. “In the middle of the night, something can happen at one of your schools and you have to deal with that. You can’t run and hide at all.”

In his experience, an urban district isn’t necessarily more difficult to run than one in the suburbs.

“It’s viewed as harder,” Yagielski said. “But all of those places are different. Every district you go to, it’s got its own makeup of population and needs.”

Still, there was one thing that he found more difficult at Schenectady than at suburban schools: the budget. Yagielski knew how many teachers he needed for the student body, but there wasn’t enough money for them all, he said.

“The unfortunate part was, while I was there, the state funding was terrible,” Yagielski said. “The city thing — it’s a bigger lift to try to take the student population and get them to the levels you really want to get them to, compared to suburban districts. You kind of start further back because of the kids’ abilities. Not because of the kids, but less preparation.”

That’s part of why Mitchell was willing to accept $60,000 to run the Henry Johnson Charter School.

Salary ranges

Mitchell is the lowest-paid full-time superintendent in the region by far; the next closest is paid more than twice as much, $114,000, to run Edinburg schools. Edinburg has 53 students, while Henry Johnson has 360. Mitchell founded one of the local KIPP charter schools — KIPP Tech Valley — and moved to Henry Johnson in 2018.

“I’m not here for the money,” he said. “I do it for the kids.”

He noted that he’s spent more than 20 years in Albany, leading schools that focus on teaching underprivileged students.

“As a child, I remember things that helped me grow,” he said. “It’s just been the opportunity to share that same experience.”

He wasn’t bothered by learning he was the lowest-paid superintendent in the region.

“I could do other things if I wanted to,” he said. “This is what I want to do.”

Henry Johnson Charter School reports expenses of $5.7 million and 24 teachers for about 360 students, with Mitchell’s salary representing 1 percent of the school’s total expenses. At Edinburg, according to the state Education Department, Superintendent Michelle Ellis oversees a budget of $3.8 million and 10 teachers for 53

Hispanic and International Ministry at Clifton Park Center Baptist Church

CLIFTON PARK - Clifton Park Center Baptist Church offers an outreach program for Hispanics and Interna tionals in the area. It is a time of fellowship and Bible Study on Mondays @ 7:00pm. It is offered in English and in Spanish. The church is located at 713 Clifton Park Center Road in Clifton Park, NY. Please contact Rev. Damaris Cami-Staples at (518)371-6023 if you have any questions.

Knitting at THE CENTER

COLONIE - Knit one, purl one, chat! A friendly group, choose either time or both. Mondays 10 a.m. and Fri day 1 p.m. 518-459-2857 x 327, cbarrett@colonieseniors.org

students, with Ellis’ salary representing 3 percent of the school’s budget.

Without Mitchell’s outlier salary, the average charter school superintendent in the region made $147,000.

Public school district superintendents made an aver age of $173,000, but usually they lead districts that are much larger than the charter schools.

Shenendehowa’s Robinson, for instance, makes $284,000.

The school district is one of the largest in the region, with about 9,500 students and 700 teachers in 12 build ings. Robinson oversees a budget of $194.3 million, of which his salary is 0.1 percent.

He has been a superintendent for 22 years, including 17 at Shenendehowa, which school officials noted is lon ger than the combined experience of the superintendents for Albany (six years), Troy (nine years) and Schenectady (two years).

Robinson declined to be interviewed about his salary, but his district sent a written statement defending the salary as reasonable considering the number of years he has led Shenendehowa.

“The level of leadership he has provided for almost two

decades has been stellar, marked by many measures. A few of note include consistently high academic achieve ment and one of the lowest per pupil costs of all districts across the state of New York,” said spokeswoman Lind say Valenti, referring to the district’s $16,000-per-pupil cost, which is lower than the state’s average of $23,400 per pupil. “Without question, his compensation is com mensurate with his leadership contribution at Shenen dehowa.”

Superintendents do not set their own pay. It is deter mined by the school board, generally through a contract negotiation between the board’s attorney and the super intendent’s attorney. Shenendehowa school board Pres ident Naomi Hoffman declined to be interviewed, but wrote in an email that Robinson is an excellent superin tendent. She did not respond to questions about why the school board has consistently chosen to keep Robinson’s salary much higher than any other local superintendent.

“We are fortunate, and our students benefit greatly, from having a longstanding, experienced superinten dent,” Hoffman wrote. “He goes above and beyond, is generous with his time, and is unmistakably committed to ensuring that the Shen community thrives.”

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