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The Livermore school board on Tuesday approved an employment contract for the district’s next superintendent.
Poised to assume the role July 1 is education leader Anthony Limoges, who worked most recently as the associate superintendent of human resources for the past eight years at Rocklin Unified School District.
The Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District Board of Education voted unanimously at its regular meeting Tuesday night in support of Limoges’ contract, making him the district’s fourth permanent superintendent since 2022.
Limoges is set to replace Acting Superintendent Michelle Pechette, who took on the role in early February following Torie Gibson’s abrupt departure by mutual separation. Pechette is poised to return to her original role as assistant superintendent of educational services for the 2026-27 school year.
“This is a great place and it has an incredible foundation,” Limoges said at the meeting. “I’m so proud to have been given this opportunity and I’m ultimately honored to be your next superintendent.”
Prior to Tuesday’s meeting, LVJUSD publicly named Limoges as the finalist for the post of district helm.
“There were so many parts of him as a person and his experience, natural talents or gifts that fit so well with what we’re asking for in a superintendent that it was such a sigh of relief to — all five of us — come together and say, ‘we don’t have to settle for nothing,’” Trustee Christiaan VandenHeuvel said during the meeting.
The search process was conducted in partnership with the Alameda County Office of Education and stakeholders, according to Board President Steven Drouin.
“There’s a leap of faith on both sides, but I think it’s gonna be a positive one,” Trustee Craig Bueno said.
Limoges is set to earn a starting annual base salary of $329,000 for 220 working days.
Given three additional steps on the salary schedule, he has the potential to receive a cumulative raise of 12% by July 2028, pending positive performance reviews at six-month intervals.
At six months of employment, Limoges is eligible to receive a 5% raise in his base salary, effective Jan. 1, 2027 with a positive performance evaluation. The raise equates to a base salary of $345,450 annually, considered Step 2 on the schedule.
A positive review for the 2026-27 school year would merit another step increase. The associated 3.5% raise would bring his annual salary to $357,541 beginning July 1, 2027.
Limoges is eligible for another 3.5% raise upon a positive evaluation at his 18-month performance review. At Step 4, the highest level, he would earn $370,052, effective July 1, 2028.
Also at Step 4, the district will contribute 3% of the superintendent’s base salary annually into a “tax sheltered annuity”, the contract states.
Additional benefits of his employment include an annual stipend for earned master’s and/or doctorate degrees, equal to that earned by members of employee group Livermore Management Association.
Premiums for health, dental and vision insurance will be covered to the same extent as those granted to LMA members, the contract states. He is also entitled to a $250,000 life and long-term disability insurance policy at the district’s expense.
Limoges’ three-year contract runs until June 30, 2029, however, extensions are possible with satisfactory evaluations.
“You basically made an offer that I couldn’t refuse and it’s not something that’s written in my contract,” Limoges said during the meeting.
Limoges said the board extended the job offer in front of his children, who were invited to the meeting.
“You have no idea how that spoke volumes to me about the kind of place that this is,” Limoges added, noting the importance he places on family.
“I approach my job and the people I work with as family,” he said. “One thing that’s important about family is that we always keep our eyes on the prize, which is ultimately, in this case, the students of the community of Livermore.”
Among the three speakers during the public comment period June 16 was Livermore Education Association President Aimee Thompson.
Thompson praised the proposed contract on points such as having just four steps, excluding a “me too” raise clause and predicating step increases on employee performance and board action.
But Thompson also pointed to inequalities in benefits offered to LEA members and those proposed for Limoges.
Unlike the incoming superintendent, LEA members are not offered life and disability insurance, she explained.
“Why are such benefits provided to the highest paid managers, but not the rank-and-file employees?” Thompson asked the board.
She also questioned why LEA members must pay for membership dues, while the superintendent receives coverage from the district.
Also during the public comment period, LVJUSD parent Tara Boyce challenged the proposed salary growth as it outpaces compensation increases for other employee groups and step increases for superintendents in neighboring districts.
“I would encourage the board to think through that and see what kind of message that ascends both to the community and the others employed by the district,” Boyce said.
Bueno later acknowledged the pace of the step increases, but noted that Limoges is poised to begin at a lower starting salary than Gibson. By comparison, Gibson’s base starting salary was $350,000 annually.
The earning potential of the LVJUSD helm is also less than the same post at Dublin Unified School District.
