SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A new contract giving the Sioux City school superintendent an $8,000 raise has boosted his salary to the third highest in the state. The Sioux City Journal reports Superintendent Paul Gausman will be paid $212,482 in the current school year. That’s behind the Des Moines superintendent’s $260,000 and Cedar Rapids’ at $220,972. The state’s third largest district, Davenport, will pay $195,868. The Sioux City district is the fourth largest in Iowa.

Sioux City school board member Doug Batcheller says the pay raise is meant to keep Gausman. Batcheller says Gausman has been approached four times about jobs elsewhere. Batcheller says an increase in student performance, improved graduation rates and declining dropout rates were key factors in the decision.

Gausman is entering his sixth year in Sioux City.