Administrators

The Vista, Calif., school board made headlines when it dangled an annual salary and benefits package of up to $300,000 before potential candidates for its superintendent's job.

The money was to ensure that the district could attract people from a variety of backgrounds, including the top ranks of business. But at the end of last month, the board settled on a new chief for the 26,000-student system--and he's an educator. In fact, all three finalists were from other districts.

R. Davis Cowles, formerly the schools chief in Los Banos, Calif., takes over the suburban San Diego district this week with a salary and benefits package worth about $170,000, said Bob Spence, the consultant...