The Natrona County School Board tonight will vote on incoming superintendent Joel Dvorak's contract.

The contract, which begins July 1, sets Dvorak's salary at $178,000 a year.

Superintendent Jim Lowham's initial 2002 contract set a base salary of $120,980 with the possibility of an additional $5,600 per year in performance pay. Lowham's 2007 contract lists his salary at $168,486.

As superintendent of curriculum and instruction, Dvorak made $123,941 according to his 2007 contract.

Dvorak's new contract also outlines the additional benefits he will see once he takes over for Lowham this summer. Dvorak will have 30 days of annual leave each year, in addition to having the option to receive two week's of pay in lieu of leave days.

Dvorak will also have 12 paid holidays each year, consistent with school district holidays, and 12 sick days a year. Should Dvorak accumulate more than 50 sick days, he will be reimbursed $60 a day for the extra days on his final district paycheck.

The school board will pay the premiums on a $350,000 life insurance policy for Dvorak, and the district will contribute roughly $20,000 on Dvorak's behalf to the Wyoming Retirement System.

According to the contract, Dvorak will have the freedom to organize, reorganize, and arrange the administrative, supervisory and other staff of the school district, and the rules, regulations and policies of the school board.

Dvorak will also be in charge of hiring and placing staff within the district and is required to attend three conferences or seminars each year he is employed with the district. Dvorak's severance package includes six months of salary.

The board will also hear the first reading of recommendations to adopt new science materials for Natrona County, Kelly Walsh and Midwest high schools tonight. The district last approved new science materials 10 years ago. The materials, which include new textbooks, are aligned with district, state and national standards.

Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at Jasa.Santos@trib.com