Superintendents employed under Art. IX of the State Constitution.

(1) In every district authorized to employ a district school superintendent under Art. IX of the State Constitution, the district school superintendent shall be the executive officer of the district school board and shall not be subject to the provisions of law, either general or special, relating to tenure of employment or contracts of other school personnel. The district school superintendent’s duties relating to the district school system shall be as provided by law and rules of the State Board of Education.

(2) Each district school board shall enter into an employment contract with the district school superintendent and shall adopt rules relating to his or her appointment; however, if the employment contract contains a provision for severance pay, it must include the provisions required by s. 215.425.

(3) The district school board of each such district shall pay to the district school superintendent a reasonable annual salary. In determining the amount of compensation to be paid, the board shall take into account such factors as:

(a) The population of the district.

(b) The rate and character of population growth.

(c) The size and composition of the student body to be served.

(d) The geographic extent of the district.

(e) The number and character of the schools to be supervised.

(f) The educational qualifications and professional experience of the candidate for the position of district school superintendent.

(4) A district school superintendent employed under the terms of this section may participate in the courses of continuing professional education provided in the special qualification certification program pursuant to s. 1001.47(4) and the leadership development and performance compensation program pursuant to s. 1001.47(5), as established by the department. Upon successful completion of the certification requirements for one or both of these programs, the district school board may use such certification or certifications as a factor in determining the amount of compensation to be paid.

(5) Notwithstanding any other law, resolution, or rule to the contrary, a district school superintendent employed under this section may not receive more than $225,000 in remuneration annually from state funds. As used in this subsection, the term “remuneration” means salary, bonuses, and cash-equivalent compensation paid to a district school superintendent by his or her employer for work performed, excluding health insurance benefits and retirement benefits. Only compensation, as defined in s. 121.021(22), provided to a district school superintendent may be used in calculating benefits under chapter 121.