Wisconsin Rapids School Board approves superintendent contract. How much will Rasmussen make in first year?

WISCONSIN RAPIDS − The Wisconsin Rapids School Board unanimously approved the appointment of Ronald Rasmussen as district superintendent Monday in a special meeting.

“I am humbled and honored to serve as the next leader of WRPS," Rasmussen said in a Friday afternoon news release announcing his selection. "I have seen first-hand how fortunate we are to have such amazing schools in our community. I am committed to continuously developing our great schools through strong relationships with, and among, our School Board, staff members, parents and students."

Rasmussen, who has served as principal of Lincoln High School since 2012, will begin his duties as superintendent on July 1.

How much will Rasmussen make as Wisconsin Rapids superintendent?

In approving the appointment, the board also finalized the position's contract. The terms of the contract are for two 260-day years with a framework to be extended for more years. The contract provides an annual salary of $175,000 in the first year, $180,000 in the second and $185,000 if extended to a third year.

The contract also includes increases in salary for administrators that occur during the term of the contract and full administrator benefits, Maurine Hodgson, School Board secretary, wrote in an email to a Daily Tribune reporter. Rasmussen was already receiving this level of benefits while serving as principal.

Outgoing Wisconsin Rapids School District Superintendent Craig Broeren received a salary of $190,990 and fringe benefits worth $58,735 in 2024, according to Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction records. In 2018, Broeren’s first year as superintendent, the position’s salary was $145,000 with fringe benefits worth $54,726.

Broeren announced his resignation as WRPS superintendent effective June 30 after leading the school district for seven years. He has accepted the position of superintendent of the St. Croix Falls School District and will begin his role there starting July 1.

How does the WRPS superintendent salary compare to other area districts?

In comparison to other area districts, WRPS paid their superintendent the least in 2024. The Wausau School District paid $200,150 in salary and $67,560 in fringe benefits. Stevens Point Area Public Schools paid $208,650 in salary and $60,941 in fringe benefits. Marshfield Unified School District paid $193,278 in salary and $60,030 in fringe benefits.

Broeren was hired one year before his peers in Wausau and Marshfield. In 2019, Wausau paid $170,000 in salary and $61,885 in fringe benefits and Marshfield paid $159,000 in salary and $48,878 in fringe benefits, while Broeren saw increases to $160,000 in salary and $57,833 in benefits. Stevens Point hired a new superintendent in 2023 at $195,000 in salary and $56,770 in benefits.

Wausau’s student population is 7,783. Stevens Point has 6,980 students. Marshfield has a population of 3,762 students. Rasmussen will be responsible for leading the district to serve Wisconsin Rapids’ 4,637 students.

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Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA-TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Reach him at epfantz@gannett.com or connect with him on X (formerly Twitter) @ErikPfantz.

This article originally appeared on Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune: How much will Ron Rasmussen make as Wisconsin Rapids superintendent?