Hindt signs contract with Katy ISD From left: Katy ISD board of trustees President Rebecca Fox, new district Superintendent Dr. Lawrence "Lance" Hindt and board of trustees Secretary Courtney Doyle were on hand at the special meeting July 1 where Hindt signed his contract for employment.[/caption]

UPDATED: July 7, 3:49 p.m.


It is official; Dr. Lawrence “Lance” Hindt is Katy ISD’s new superintendent of schools after signing an employment contract during a special meeting of the KISD board of trustees Friday night.

Hindt’s contract signing is 21 days after June 10, the date he was named as the lone finalist for the position. The three-week delay is the minimum timeframe required by state law that a school district must give to the public before a final action is taken.

Hindt is a 1983 graduate of KISD’s Taylor High School; he will start work Aug. 1, taking over for Alton Frailey who was superintendent for nine years.

“Signed, sealed and delivered,” Hindt said. “[I am] looking forward to being here Aug. 1, and getting to work for the Katy community.”

The five-year employment contract states that Hindt will make $375,000 in base salary per year, which is over $85,000 more than Frailey’s salary of $288,400.

According to the contract, Hindt must be given a pay raise that correlates to an equal or greater percentage compared to full-time classroom teachers if such a salary increase is adopted in any annual budget beginning on or after July 1, 2017.

Dr. Lawrence "Lance" Hindt signs a contract to become superintendent of Katy ISD on July 1. Dr. Lawrence "Lance" Hindt signs a contract to become superintendent of Katy ISD on July 1.[/caption]

The employment contract also says that Hindt will receive three weeks of paid vacation per year and can choose to surrender up to five days of accrued but unused vacation in exchange for a lump sum cash payment corresponding to the chosen number of days at his then-current daily rate pay. The contract also allows Hindt to bankroll state and local leave from year-to-year up to a maximum of 45 accrued days that he could cash out at his then-current daily rate pay should he retire while still under contract.

In addition to covering all of Hindt’s moving and relocation expenses, the district has agreed to reimburse Hindt for travel and business expenses incurred while executing his duties as superintendent. This includes the costs of traveling outside of the Region 4 Education Service area.

Hindt will also be required to pass an annual executive physical examination confirming that he is still able to perform the essential functions of his position. The district will pay for full health and hospitalization, dental and vision insurance for Hindt, but the new superintendent is required to cover any additional insurance for himself or his family.

In addition to unanimously approving Hindt’s contract, the board also unanimously approved a moving and relocation expenses agreement with Hindt. [totalpoll id="164960"]

Maria Corrales, KISD’s manager of media relations and multimedia, confirmed that the district will fully cover all costs related to Hindt’s relocation from the Dallas area—where Hindt previously served as Allen ISD’s superintendent.

“Dr. Hindt was a unanimous choice for us that he’s the perfect fit,” said KISD board of trustees President Rebecca Fox. “His skillsets and his character and his qualities and the home-town feeling and the warmth that he brings—a connection to the community—will fit Katy so perfectly.”

Corrales also said that Hindt’s wife, Kathryn, a long-time math instructor, has been offered a teaching position in the district at Ray and Jamie Wolman Elementary School. The district is still awaiting Kathryn’s acceptance of the position, Corrales said.

“It’s going to be great [having Kathryn in KISD],” Hindt said. “My wife and I worked for 20 years together in Fort Bend ISD, and she’s a phenomenal teacher. I told this board that the better educator of the two of us is definitely my wife. But with a district this size—181 square miles, I believe—it’s nice to know that my wife will be part of the district and part of building on the legacy of Katy ISD.”