School board approves new three-year contract for superintendent

The Blaine school board unanimously approved a three-year contract for Blaine school district superintendent Christopher Granger during its virtual meeting on May 26.

The contract, starting on July 1 and ending on June 30, 2023, will start with a base salary of $187,000 in addition to a $2,000 stipend given to administrative staff in the school district who hold a doctoral degree. The school district hired Granger in August 2019 to replace former superintendent Ron Spanjer, who retired. Granger’s original contract had an annual base salary of $171,000.

Granger’s salary will not be less than the average base salary for superintendents in the Northwest Educational Service District region, which includes the Lynden and Mount Baker school districts, according to the contract.

During the board meeting, Granger said he will not receive additional benefits that other district administrators don’t have.

“I think I can speak, at least to this board, that we appreciate the work that you’re doing and that we have every confidence that you will continue to do the outstanding work that you’re doing,” said board president Charles Gibson to Granger during the May 26 meeting.

Granger has a doctorate in education leadership and master’s in educational administration from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. He moved to Blaine after working as assistant superintendent of Bisbee Unified School District in Bisbee, Arizona.

The salary will be adjusted by the board of directors each year of the three-year contract, according to the contract.