Many of my neighbors are just learning that our school district has the esteemed distinction of employing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s most highly-paid school system bureaucrat: Garnet Valley School District Superintendent, Dr Anthony V Costello. I’m sure we’re a long way from getting such non-productive salaries in line with reality but at least we’re seeing the beginnings of the unraveling of this leviathan and it’s secret shroud.
Delaware County Taxpayers Coalition
GVSD Superintendent Compensation
August 13, 2025
This summary was prepared based on the information
provided by GVSD to Tony Santore in a letter dated July 27, 2025
Salary: The Annual Base Salary (ABS) for the 2008/09 fiscal year is $250,519. According to Pa. Dept of Ed, Costello’s salary is $277,022.
Issues:
· ABS for the 2025/10 fiscal year?
· 06/07 increase was 6.6%
· 07/08 increase was 6.6%
· Annual adjustments “used in the GVSD administrative salary plan. What is this plan?
· Option to work 13 days, paid at “per-diem rate for each extra day of work.” Amounts are included when determining Total Compensation
· Supplemental Compensation: What is this? How much has been paid?
Paid Time Off: Consist of holidays, vacation and sick leave days.
Holidays: Same as other twelve-month employees.
Vacation: 27 days per year, plus “one additional vacation day for each year of your service in the GVSD.” Per Pa. Dept of Ed, A. Costello has 17 years in GVSD. Thus, Mr. Costello has 44 days of annual vacation per year. The maximum accumulation is 40 days. At separation or retirement the value of accumulated vacation pay are paid as a nonelective[J1] GVSD contribution into 403(b). The value will be calculated based on ABS plus Supplemental Compensation. At option of Costello, he can transfer up to 10 vacation days to his sick leave bank.
Sick leave days: 12 days per year, unused days are cumulative and may be supplemented by the Board. At separation or retirement the value of accumulated sick leave will be paid as a nonelective GVSD contribution into 403(b).
Benefits: Receives any and all other fringe benefits and incentives scheduled for the GVSD administrative staff.
Disability Benefits: 66% of Total Compensation until age 65 after 61 day elimination period.
Health Benefits: For Costello and spouse health benefits provided by GVSD until death. GVSD pays full cost until 70th birthday. Benefit will be at least equal to plan in last year of employment.
Automobile: Provided a new every 3 years a GVSD owned automobile. GVSD pays insurance, routine maintenance, fuel and required repairs. Auto can be used for professional and personal use.
Deferred Compensation: GVSD has purchased a split dollar life insurance policy for Costello. What is the face amount of the policy and how much is the annual premium?
This is NUTS. A genial yet undistinguished manager of a middling suburban public-shool district, where social pathology is weak and disorganized, is “earning” enough with perks and bennies to buy a house in the district every year. That means you are all living poorer than you otherwise would so Dr. Costello can sock away the equivalent of a new Ferrari every couple of years to helm a school system that would do the same middling job with a monkey at the helm. In a way, I guess he does “earn” it – he’s prying it out of your hands OK. Too bad he’s working against you instead of for you.