Degree of guilt

Some Oak Park voters are concerned about the school district paying for Tony Knight's trip to England. I'll bet they'd also be concerned with the following excerpt from the June 13, 2006 board meeting minutes:

"On motion of Cindy Vinson, seconded by Jan Iceland, the Board approved the compensation for Administration, Superintendent and Confidential Employees to also include a $10,000 a year stipend for the Superintendent toward his doctoral program. Motion carried 5-0."

How, pray tell, can the addition of some letters behind the superintendent's name be worth that much money? Have all other employees been rewarded commeasurately upon receiving advanced degrees?
Glen Wilcox
Oak Park