Fort Wayne Community Schools Superintendent Wendy Robinson has a new contract - with no raise.

Board members approved the new five-year contract - the second one in Robinson's career - Monday night with a base salary of $174,502.

“There just isn't the money this year to increase the base salary,” board president Mark GiaQuinta said.

The district has made numerous cuts this year, including the reduction of 49 teaching positions, because of budget cuts.

Few changes were made from the contract Robinson received when she started as superintendent in 2003.

Language in the contract was tweaked, rollover vacation was removed and a “golden handcuffs” clause was added as an incentive to keep Robinson in the district.

If Robinson stays through June 20, 2014, she will receive $30,000 in addition to her salary and $10,000 each of the following years that she stays.

“We want to keep Dr. Robinson here in Fort Wayne,” GiaQuinta said, referring to offers she has received over the years to take jobs in other districts.

Missing from the new contract was a set evaluation time frame, unlike the last contract when they were done annually.

Robinson said her evaluations will now coincide with talks about the balanced score card, which is a documented measure of how well the district is performing, and which should happen quarterly.

Her evaluations will also be weighed against national standards, which will be developed by a board committee with advice from Robinson.

Robinson has been operating under her old contract for about three years. Language in the contract allowed it to automatically renew itself. Now, after a couple of months of negotiations, Robinson - and the board - are happy the process is completed.

“I'm just glad it's over, and I'm ready to focus on the real work at hand,” Robinson said.

“I think the contract is an indication of the collaboration that we do here. It's a pleasure for me to continue in the district.”