Oxford school officials are considering giving Superintendent Tim Thone a 4 percent pay bump because they are pleased with his overall performance.

The subject was discussed during the Aug. 22 school board meeting.

“Tim has exceeded expectations in his reviews and in the expectations the board has set for him since he’s been here,” President Dan D’Alessandro said in a later interview with this reporter.

“One of the things that we really value that Tim’s done (as) superintendent is he’s built a culture that has brought the community together and that’s something that we value highly. We’ve really expressed that, while educational standards need to be number one, building a culture that values everybody, all stakeholders, was our other top priority. We feel he has done just that.”

Throne’s compensation package for the 2016-17 school year is $175,000, plus benefits.

His contract was recently extended by the board through December 2021.

According to Throne’s most recent performance evaluation, issued last November, he was rated to be “highly effective” overall by the board, which is the highest possible score.

As a safeguard, the superintendent’s contract would also include the option to reopen negotiations if there’s a decline in revenue or there are changes in enrollment and/or per pupil funding from the state.

This would align with recent union contracts which were approved by the board for Oxford staff.

“It was very important to the board, and to Tim, that he has the same type of structure in his contract like we negotiated with our teaching staff in their contracted negotiations,” D’Alessandro said during the meeting.

“I didn’t feel like it was a good thing if one set of employees, the teachers, are getting one thing and the superintendent (is) being given something else. Likewise, if we were to have to go back and freeze (salaries) or that type of thing, I would expect the same thing for myself,” Throne added.

The school board is expected to make a decision regarding Throne’s potential salary bump at the Sept. 12 meeting to be held at the high school (745 N. Oxford Rd.) at 6:30 p.m.