Collapsing school district’s top brass are on huge salaries — as finance chief issues damning assessment

The leaders at a California school district that is on the brink of collapse are being paid a fortune despite the catastrophe, the Post can reveal.

The upper echelons of Santa Rosa City Schools, about an hour north of San Francisco, earn well over $1 million combined — with the superintendent making over $250,000 per year.

Despite the crisis, when the Post contacted the school for comment, no one was available to comment due to spring break.

It comes as the district teeters on the verge of collapse after what investigators called a massive over hiring system and ballooning pay packets.

Lisa August Hulme, the now interim Superintendent for Santa Rosa City Schools, has a base salary of $261,537.

That’s in the 90th percentile of California’s superintendents and closer to salaries in larger districts, such as San Diego with over 20,000 students. Santa Rosa City Schools have just over 12,000.

John Fischer, the executive director of the special services office — who has been vocal about under-funding for students from the federal level — earned over $177,000 after benefits.

Other top salaries include Dr Vicki Zands, an assistant superintendent who makes over $222,000 a year after benefits, and Roderick Castro, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning made $243,410.60.

Stacy A. Desideri, the Executive Director of Wellness & Engagement also earned a total compensation of $198,000.

The 2025-2026 Santa Rosa City schools management salary schedule reveals above average payment for various positions including $170,000 for a high school principal. The California average is $135,000.

The Post’s request for comment on how salaries in the district are determined wasn’t immediately returned with some executives out on spring break.

Given the budget issues, some of the district’s executives have taken pay cuts to try to help with the deficit.

Schools districts in California earn money based on the number of students enrolled, but the numbers in the district has steadily declined over the past five years.

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Santa Rosa City Schools have been reprimanded by Sonoma County education chiefs for blowing stacks of cash.

The district lost a large number of students due to covid and devastating wildfires that took place in the region in 2017, burning over 5600 structures and killing 22.

More recently at one of the District schools, Montgomery High, a 16 year old student was fatally stabbed by another student in 2023.

Jayden Jess Pienta, was knifed in a classroom and later died at Santa Rosa Hospital.