SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Unified School District's Board of Education Tuesday approved a four-year contract for Cindy Marten, who was selected as the district's next superintendent.

Marten, who is currently the principal at Central Elementary School, will assume her new role on July 1 -- one day after the retirement of Bill Kowba.

According to the district, Marten's starting salary will be $255,000. She said she will pledge $5,000 of her salary toward a scholarship that will be given to a student planning a career in education.

The donation will make her first-year salary $250,000.

"The Board unanimously agree that Cindy Marten is the right choice as the next superintendent for San Diego Unified," said Board President John Lee Evans. "We wanted an educator who is a visionary leader and a leader who can assertively guide the district to the goals of Vision 2020. Cindy Marten is that person."