KC TIES SUPERINTENDENT'S PAY TO STUDENT PERFORMANCE

The Kansas City School District continues to struggle as it tries to move beyond the shadow of court-ordered desegregation.

Its school board recently hired a new superintendent -- the 19th person to fill the job in the last 30 years.

The newest administrator was the board's fourth choice for the job. The other three all withdrew as candidates for one reason or another.

It wasn't for the lack of money. Benjamin Demps Jr. will receive a base contract of $156,000. With incentives and perks, his salary will likely top $200,000 -- equal to the pay of the president of the United States.

But taxpayers should give the board credit for a practical salary approach. Demp's salary incentives are tied to student achievement.

For all the millions of dollars spent on desegregation efforts in Kansas City, student achievement continues to flounder. It is good that the incentives are directly tied to student success as opposed to teacher or administrative status.

It shows that the school board remembers what the school district all about. If students don't succeed, a school district fails at its primary function.

It is time Kansas City's schools earned a passing grade on educating its students. Perhaps Superintendent No. 19 has the financial incentive to make the grade.