Updated 10:54 a.m. June 13

Frisco ISD board of trustees unanimously approved a three-year contract, with the ability to extend, for the district’s new superintendent Mike Waldrip during a special meeting on Monday.

Mike Waldrip[/caption]

Waldrip’s annual salary beginning July 1 will be $293,000 with a travel stipend of $7,000. The district will also provide moving expenses in the amount of $10,000.

Waldrip is replacing Jeremy Lyon who will be retiring June 30 after more than four years with the district and 31 years in public education.

For the 2016-17 school year, Lyon received a base salary of $290,000, according to the Texas Education Agency.

According to the Texas Association of School Boards, the average superintendent salaries range from $94,920 in districts with less than 500 students to $308,184 in districts with more than 50,000 students.

For the 2017-18 school year, student enrollment at FISD is projected to increase to 58,687 students.

Waldrip has been the superintendent at Coppell ISD since 2014, however, before he was at Coppell ISD he spent 12 years in FISD.

During his time at FISD, Waldrip served as a middle school principal and director of secondary instruction before opening Liberty High School as principal in 2006. He then went on to serve FISD as assistant superintendent and deputy superintendent before going to Coppell ISD.

Trustee John Hoxie told Waldrip, who was present at the meeting, that the board really appreciates him “coming home” and filling the position.

“I think this is the right leadership, at the right time for the right district,” Hoxie said.

Waldrip said he was excited to be back at FISD where he began his administrative career.

“Although I’m leaving a great school district, it’s an honor to be back in Frisco,” Waldrip said. “I am humbled that this board chose me to be the next superintendent in [FISD] and I look forward to working with them once again.”

Waldrip is a 1982 graduate of Texas Tech University where he earned his undergraduate degree in biology and physical education. Waldrip also has his masters and doctorate in educational administration from Sul Ross State University and the University of North Texas.