St. Paul to reimburse superintendent up to $40K for moving

The St. Paul School District will reimburse its superintendent up to $40,000 dollars for moving-related costs.

Valeria Silva has worked for the St. Paul district for more than 20 years and lives in Woodbury. When she was hired as superintendent two years ago, her contract included language that the school board would prefer she lived in St. Paul.

Now, the board has agreed to pay her up to $40,000 dollars to cover moving expenses, including closing costs. Silva said the reimbursements are justified because she's moving to meet a work obligation.

"I do have a property in Woodbury, which I've lived [in for] 13 years, and I could stay there and it wouldn't cost the district anything," she said. "But because of the requirement to live in the city, it's a cost that I have to absorb because of my job."

Silva also said both St. Paul and districts across the country routinely provide moving reimbursements for superintendents.

Silva's Woodbury house is on the market. She said she'll wait to sell that house before buying in St. Paul, though she has already looked at several homes in the city.