A Message from Chris Fritsch, Superintendent

CRSD Receives COPS Grant:

The District was recently notified that its application for a Department of Justice Grant had been approved and will receive a $500,000 COPS SVPP grant.

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) is the component of the U.S. Department of Justice responsible for advancing the practice of community policing by the nation’s state, local, territorial, and tribal law enforcement agencies through information and grant resources. The COPS Office provides funding through the School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) for the following purposes:

  • Coordination with law enforcement,
  • Training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence against others and self,
  • Metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures,
  • Technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency,
  • Other measures providing a significant improvement in security.

The SVPP program goal is to improve security at schools and on school grounds through the implementation of evidence-based school safety programs and technology.

The District intends to use the funds to replace the aging PA (Public Announcement) system district wide. This new technology is critical to our emergency response protocols and is considered one of the highest priorities in effective response protocols.
With the funds the district intends to:

  • Install a PA system that includes intercom service to all classrooms and common areas,
  • Install LED screens in all classrooms,
  • Install an exterior notification signal system to all school buildings, and if funds are available,
  • Replace all classroom door hardware for intruder response protocol,
  • Purchase new state of the art hand-held radios for all sites, and
  • Install a panic button system at all sites.

Although the grant will not fund 100% of the proposed components, the District will utilize other grants and funds from the Capital Levy that voters approved in 2023. The District intends to have the upgrades completed by August 31, 2026.

Updated: 10/31/2025

Superintendent FAQs

No, pay for staff, including school administrator pay, comes from a completely separate budget than capital levy funds. Capital levies must be voter-approved and must fund the facilities’ projects, maintenance, and improvements voters intended to fund. Capital levies do not pay for any staff salaries.

Other Educational Programs & Operations levies that Castle Rock relies on must also be used for the purposes voters intended, such as extracurricular activities, technology and curriculum, student transportation, and specific staff positions in Special Education and Health and Safety.

The school superintendent’s salary is completely separate from and is not funded by the capital levy.

In the sports world, Castle Rock is a school district with a 1-A high school, meaning it has between 225-449 high school students and competes in athletic events against other school districts of like size. According to the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA), the current Castle Rock School District superintendent receives less in compensation than the current average superintendent in a public school district of similar size in Washington State. The average salary for a Washington State public school superintendent of a district of a similar size to Castle Rock is $189,229-$267,434.

A public school superintendent’s salary is determined by the district’s school board and is outlined in a contract. As with any position, one of the goals of the process is to make sure that the salary a school district offers is comparable to the salaries of superintendents in neighboring districts of similarly-sized school districts. According to the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA), the current Castle Rock School District superintendent receives less in compensation than the current average superintendent in a public school district of similar size in Washington State.

Like other public school districts in the state of Washington, the Castle Rock School Board is responsible for facilitating the selection of a superintendent based on standard desired qualifications required by the state and set by the board and a competitive application process, coupled with community engagement opportunities. Progress and the superintendent’s contract are reviewed annually.

There are several degrees and qualifications necessary to be a superintendent of a public school district in Washington State. To be eligible, the candidate must:

  • Have a master’s degree from an accredited college or university,
  • Complete a state-approved superintendent preparation program,
  • Previously or currently hold a teaching, Education Staff Associate (ESA), principal or administrator certificate,
  • Pass a thorough background check, and
  • Submit an application, letter of interest, and reference(s).

Each superintendent’s pay breakdown is unique to each individual public school district, is intended to attract applicants to the position, and is based on available budget, as determined by the school board. While some superintendent positions (both locally and across the state) offer additional compensation opportunities in the form of stipends for professional expenses, school superintendent contracts and compensation packages DO NOT include money for things like clothing and housing. Differing approaches to compensation make it difficult to compare the salaries of school leaders as an apples-to-apples comparison, however, it is always Castle Rock’s goal to use any of its funding appropriately and wisely.