GOP Legislators Blast John Cox $141,000 Salary
GOP legislators blast Democratic candidate’s superintendent’s salary
By ANDREA EGER World Staff Writer
Two state House leaders accused a state superintendent candidate on Monday of paying teachers in his district less than the state average while taking a salary nearly twice that of the average Oklahoma superintendent.
Reps. Todd Thomsen, R-Ada, and Lee Denney, R-Cushing, question how Democrat John Cox, superintendent of Peggs Public Schools, could campaign for higher teacher pay when he is paid a salary of at least $141,678 when the average teacher pay there is $2,000 to $3,000 less than the state average.
The lawmakers said they got their figures from the state Office of Educational Quality and Accountability and that they think Cox’s total compensation costs could be “significantly more than reported.”
They said they were comparing Cox’s salary to the state average salary for school administrators of $76,424.
“While teachers are struggling statewide, John Cox is earning an astronomical amount for an administrator of a K-8 school district where he manages 13 or so teachers. I was surprised when I saw his contract, and there are additional costs above and beyond his salary,” said Denney, chairwoman of the House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee for Common Education.