Presented is part 1 of a three-part report called the "National Survey of Fringe Benefits in Public Schools, 1987-88." The focus of part 1 is on the fringe benefit practices offered superintendents. Fringe benefits included are leave policies, insurance coverage, retirement provisions, tuition reimbursement, severance pay, transportation, expense account allowances, and practices relating to professional activities. The data were collected from a national panel sample stratified by enrollment size and are reported separately for large, medium, small, and very small systems; for five levels of per-pupil expenditures; and for eight geographic regions. (SI)