Topeka USD 501 Deputy Superintendent Larry Robbins’ 2024 retirement package will eventually cost the district nearly $1 million when it expires in 2029. That figure includes early retirement, accrued sick pay, unused vacation, and fully paid benefits. Apart from that compensation, Robbins signed two six-month consulting contracts for 2025, a few months later, that paid him $3,564 a month and only required him to work one day a week.
That’s a bit more than the “token of appreciation” — a potted plant — that was mentioned in the district’s summary of his retirement.
The Sentinel filed an Open Records request with the district and received copies of the contracts and the figures for the retirement package.
Dr. Aarion Gray, General Director of Instructional Services for the district, defended the generosity of Mr. Robbins’ retirement compensation:
“Attached is the summary of compensation for Mr. Larry Robbins, the former Deputy Superintendent who had extensive finance and business experience. He oversaw food service, budget and finance, personnel, facilities, school safety and security, transportation, technology, business partnerships, and property management and development and was instrumental in facilitating the work that led to voters passing a $143 million bond issue, which facilitated the construction of five new schools and the addition of FEMA storm shelters district-wide. Former Deputy Superintendent of Operations, Larry Robbins, did not have a separation agreement.
“Mr. Robbins helped guide the sixth-largest district in Kansas for 15 years, utilizing business practices to achieve the highest bond rating possible while simultaneously reducing the mill levy. After 15 years of loyal service with near-perfect attendance, he retired with a five-year retirement compensation plan designed to mitigate the financial impact to the district of his retirement.
USD 501 outlines generous early retirement package
Robbins didn’t have a separation agreement as Gray stated, but that is a bit deceptive; the Sentinel learned that the lucrative benefits were outlined in Robbins’ employment contract. Mr. Robbins’ retirement payout, including sick leave, accrued vacation, and early retirement, is a little over $798,000:
But that’s not all. Gray says USD 501 will also provide health, prescription, and life insurance for five years; based on the current cost of $26,580 per year, the five-year total is $132,900. Adding the one-day-per-week consulting agreement will cost the district a total of $974,018 over five years.
And that is all in addition to KPERS pension benefits available to Robbins.
“Former Deputy Superintendent of Operations Larry Robbins was hired as a consultant after he retired to help reduce the loss of business partnership support from the many businesses he secured while employed and to address the loss of his role as a mentor for principals by providing additional support through two six-month consulting contracts, which concluded this month.
“The two six-month consulting agreements are attached, and his consulting will end this month (December 2025) and will not be renewed at Mr. Robbins’ request. Based on his extensive experience in private-sector operations and management and his 15 years of experience with USD 501 managing and operating seven major departments, Mr. Robbins was hired as a consultant after he retired because his position was not immediately filled and responsibility for the operations of those seven departments was assigned to other department leaders. He was hired as a consultant to help mentor department and building leaders and to continue developing community business partnerships.”
Gray also explained that Robbins deferred 57.4 weeks of vacation time. His employment contract allowed unlimited accrual of generous vacation time: 24 days per year in addition to 10 days of paid holidays.
