It doesn’t always pay to be the boss. Harry Fogle, an assistant superintendent for Carroll County schools made nearly $14,000 more than his direct supervisor last year.

Fogle earned $163,580 in 2006, according to payroll records obtained by The Examiner, while Superintendent Charles Ecker earned $149,600.

The Examiner is looking at salaries and overtime payments to public employees throughout the region. (Click here to view the entire salary and overtime file for Carroll County Public Schools.)

Fogle’s higher wages are a result of his contract with the Maryland Department of Education to lead a team of managers tasked with overhauling Baltimore City’s 14,000-student special education program.

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“It’s one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done,” Fogle said of his work in Baltimore.

A federal judge issued an emergency order in 2005 authorizing the unprecedented state takeover after complaints arose about special-education students not receiving speech therapy and other services.

Fogle’s team provided 73,000 service hours to special education students. His team also improved bus routes so students are using fewer taxis to get to school and installed GPS systems to ensure buses picked up students, he said.

Fogle is on loan to the state, which reimburses Carroll for his wages, said Stephen Guthrie, assistant superintendent of administration.

Twenty-four of Carroll schools’ 3,400 employees earned six figures, compared with the four people who earned six figures among Carroll County government employees.

However, Ecker’s salary ranks last among superintendents in the Baltimore region, according to fiscal year 2007 data.

“I have turned down raises from time to time,” said Ecker, who has overseen a system of 38,000 students since 2000. “I thought I was being paid enough. I’m more concerned about county finances and other salaries, like teachers.”

Teachers will earn a 7 percent pay raise during next school year, according to the recently adopted school budget.

Top five earners in Carroll schools

1. Harry Fogle, assistant superintendent, $163,580

2. Charles Ecker, superintendent, $149,600

3. Stephen Guthrie, assistant superintendent, $117,172

4. Cynthia Little, student services director, $114,264

5. James Doolan, transportation director, $112,856

Source: Carroll County schools

kvolkmann@baltimoreexaminer.com