JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Duval County School Board officially voted in favor of the proposed $320,000 salary for incoming Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier Wednesday morning.
The Board voted 6 to 1 in favor of the salary. Warren Jones, who represents District 5, was the lone vote against.
“We’ve laid off employees, we cut staff, I have concerns about paying Dr. Bernier that much," Jones said. "A 7-8% increase than our current superintendent."
The official vote comes after days of negotiations between Bernier and the school board, which some Duval County parents called to pause after the new superintendent was named in a federal lawsuit.
Salary negotiations also took place amidst budget cuts, layoffs and discussions to shutter several DCPS schools.
On top of Bernier's initial $350,000 annual salary request, his first proposal also included a $1,000 car stipend per month and $50,000 yearly for a mentor.
The district did not agree to those requests. Instead, the district countered Bernier's request with an annual pay of $280,000, with the possibility of up to $20,000 in bonuses.
Dr. Diana Greene, the former superintendent of Duval County Public Schools, made $300,000 before stepping down in 2023.
Many of the board members commented on Dr. Bernier's salary during the hour-long meeting.
“I think our pay needs to be raised and we are in a situation where we can be competitive with other urban school districts,” explained board member Lori Hershey.
Bernier's contract also includes up to $15,000 in reimbursements for expenses he experienced after moving from Lee County.
Bernier served as Lee County superintendent before his abrupt resignation following the filing of two federal discrimination lawsuits against the school district, citing it mishandled a situation involving a racist text message.
Bernier's contract will run through June 30, 2028.