At a Butler County school district that's heading for budget cuts, here's how much top earners are paid.
Fairfield City School District is Butler County's third-largest district, serving thousands of students north of Cincinnati in Fairfield. Ohio School Report Cards, the state's performance rating system, gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars for the 2024-2025 school year.
After voters turned down the district's proposed 1.25% earned income tax in May, the district made plans to cut $4.5 million from its budget going into the next school year, as it faces a projected budget shortfall in 2028. Some of those cost-saving measures include leaving at least 15 teaching positions vacant.
Here's what to know about the district and its top-paid employees.
Fairfield City Schools quick facts
- The district enrolls 8,669 students, according to 2024-2025 state data.
- There are 10 schools, ranging from elementary to high school.
- The district has a 94.5% four-year graduation rate.
- The average teacher has 15 years of experience and earns $74,748 per year.
Superintendent is highest paid with over $200,000 per year
Billy Smith
has served as superintendent of Fairfield City Schools since 2016. He was paid $202,304 for the 2025-2026 school year, according to the district.
That's slightly less than the superintendent's salary at Lakota Local Schools, Butler County's largest school district. Ashley Whitely began a five-year contract as Lakota's superintendent in August 2024. Her salary for the 2025-2026 school year was $209,007, The Enquirer found after a public records request.
Smith has worked in the district since 1995 as a teacher, dean of students, assistant principal and principal.
Top-paid employees at Fairfield City Schools
Here are the 10 highest-paid school district employees, according to information from the district obtained through a public records request:
- $202,304: Superintendent Billy Smith.
- $160,000: Treasurer Jay Phillips.
- $153,842: Assistant superintendent Kimberly Hauer.
- $142,254: Mandy Aug, director of curriculum and instruction.
- $139,664: Lance Perry, director of business operations.
- $133,954: High school principal Ryan Bellamy.
- $128,306: Crossroads Middle School principal David Maine.
- $126,594: High school athletic director Aaron Blankenship.
- $126,483: Matthew Crapo, director of student services.
- $125,965: Jason Hussel, director of human resources.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Top 10 highest paid employees at Fairfield City Schools | List
