The number of Upper Grand District School Board employees being paid more than $100,000 in basic salaries last year jumped 64 per cent, and for the first time included one salary above $200,000.

As required by the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act, the board has released a list of 105 board employees who received salaries of more than $100,000 in 2009 - up from 64 in 2008.

As usual, Education Director Martha Rogers was the board’s top income earner, getting $201,277.02 in basic salary and $1,030.56 in taxable benefits – up from $192,573.95 and benefits of $1,097.76 in 2008.

Next in line were five board superintendents, who each received more than $158,000 in salaries and benefits, compared with $152,000 in the previous year.

Almost all the $100,000- plus employees were management personnel, including superintendents, principals and vice-principals. However, the list did include two teachers, one of whom, Laird Schneider was paid $127,352.26.

Board chair Bob Borden, who recalled that his salary was already “in the 90s” 10 years ago when he retired as a principal with the Peel District school board, said the roles and responsibilities of board administrators have changed dramatically in recent years, with their range of tasks including everything from curricula to health and safety — “a much more complex job than it used to be.”

As for the education director’s $200,000-plus pay, “Martha Rogers earns every penny of it,” he said.

Describing her as the “most senior director in the province,” he said the former director of the Wellington County board routinely works into the night.