Newly signed William S. Hart Union High School District Superintendent Jaime Castellanos will receive an annual salary of $185,000, about $50,000 more than the outgoing superintendent, according to a three-year contract released by the district Friday.
Castellanos, who inherits the title district superintendent from Robert C. Lee in July, will also receive a number of benefits as part of his contract, including $5,000 in relocation reimbursements during his move from Orange County to the Santa Clarita Valley.
The new chief executive officer for the district made his position official Thursday by signing the contract that was approved by the Hart district school board at an April 20 meeting. He will be the first ethnic minority to head the district.
As part of the contract, Castellanos will be provided with a district car that he can use for “business and reasonable personal use.”
He will also be guaranteed 24 annual paid vacation days and 18 sick days per year, in addition to health, dental, vision and other benefits that are provided to all management employees.
The benefits, except for the $52,500 salary discrepancy, were similar to those received by Lee during his term at the helm of the seventh-through-12th-grade district.
Castellanos will come to the Hart district from the Newport-Mesa Unified School District in Orange County, where he was assistant superintendent.