Dr. Christine Moloney’s compensation as the Chehalis School District Superintendent for the 2023-24 school year has sparked attention due to its considerable size. Moloney’s earnings for that year totaled $545,618, which included $225,000 in base salary and a significant $350,000 severance payment after her contract was terminated early.
This severance payment was part of a contractual clause that entitled her to half of her remaining compensation if her contract was ended prematurely. Her pay made her the highest-paid K-12 educator in Washington state, surpassing the next-highest paid educator by over $113,000.
The severance agreement, signed by the Chehalis School Board in June 2024, was part of her contract, which ran from 2023 to 2026. Despite her early resignation, Moloney’s separation was framed as a resignation, with no official explanation provided for her contract termination.
In contrast, her successor, Rick Goble, accepted a reduced salary for the 2024-25 year and does not have a similar severance clause in his contract.
This discrepancy in compensation has raised questions about public school district financial priorities, especially in the context of the average compensation for superintendents in Washington state, which was $212,653 in 2023-24.
Moloney’s severance, however, highlights an interesting case in which her contract’s early termination provision resulted in a substantial payout, despite her resignation.