New Montgomery Co. Superintendent To Earn $250,000

ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) -- The incoming superintendent of Montgomery County public schools will be paid a higher annual base salary than his predecessor.

According to a contract unanimously approved by the county's Board of Education on Tuesday, Joshua Starr will be paid $250,000 a year. He also is receiving $30,000 for moving expenses.

Current Superintendent Jerry Weast initially earned about $237,800, but his salary was tied to the local economy's performance and is now about $217,000. Weast has led the system since 1999 and is retiring in June.

Starr was previously superintendent of the 15,000-student school system in Stamford, Conn. He was named to lead Montgomery County's 144,000-student system in April.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)