Incoming Austin Independent School District Superintendent Meria Carstarphen has been receiving $1,000 a day for consulting work, even though she doesn’t start her new job until July 1.

School board President Mark Williams, in an interview with the Austin American-Statesman, said the compensation was approved because of Carstarphen’s work on next years’ AISD budget and other financial issues.

"I realize there's a certain amount that's expected from anyone starting a new job, but we're asking her to provide significant chunks of time and meaningful input," Williams said.

Carstarphen has worked 16 days, receiving $16,000 plus $1,500 for travel expenses. Her annual salary will be $275,000 plus a $25,000 a year bonus. Outgoing Superintendent Pat Forgione’s annual salary was $285,000.

So far the outrage has been focused on AISD’s failure to disclose the details of the agreement rather than the fact that Carstarphen was paid the money, though in a time of tight budgets it should receive more scorn.

AISD spent the taxpayers money out of sight, approving the compensation package while leaving the vote off the agenda. The details of the agreement were not released, and the Statesman had to put in a request for the information.

It's almost as if public officials were sick, not in body but in mind, and downright fearful of providing transparency and respecting sunshine laws that maintain an open government.

This sickness has already struck the nations' capitol. Symptoms include a loss of memory, especially in regards to budget keeping. It is believed responsible for U.S. Rep. Don Young (R- AK) referring to his pork barrel funds as “my money” instead of taxpayer money, why President Barack Obama called the recent tea parties mere “games” and why only three out of ten lawmakers showed up to an oversight meeting for the recently passed "stimulus" funds.

This is the second time Austin taxpayers have been embarrassed this year. On top of the superintendent pay issue, the multi-million dollar commuter rail line approved by the voters in 2004 was delayed after the operating company failed to meet safety regulations. A new timeline for the project will be announced May 15.

Time will tell how the rest of 2009 treats the city. In the meantime, with transparency being clouded, the question at hand is whether the sickness inhibiting the minds of public officials is heliophobia, the fear of sunlight.