Schools
School Board Opposes Christie's Superintendent Salary Caps
The Board of Education resolved to send a letter to Trenton criticizing proposed limits on superintendent salaries.
After some debate, the Board of Education passed a resolution to formally oppose Governor Chris Christie's proposal to cap superintendent salaries in a meeting Monday night.
If implemented, Christie's proposal would limit the maximum salary a superintendent can earn based on the size of the district he or she works in. Many districts throughout New Jersey oppose the measure, citing the need to compete for top candidates by offering competitive salaries.
"The anticipation is that it will be difficult for school districts to attract some of the quality people that schools want in those positions when you look just at salary," said District of the Chathams superintendent Jim O'Neill.
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"It's rather strident in its tone and rather critical," said board member Alan Routh. "I'm not sure that it recognizes some of the constraints that NJ is going through. The biggest part of the state budget and the real estate is for schools. The biggest part of the school budget is salaries. The best way to attack the budget problem is by attacking salary raises."
"(The proposal will) bring superintendent salaries in line with district needs," a statement from Christie's office said. "These salaries are out of proportion with the private sector, current economic realities and district demands."
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The board has drafted a letter of opposition to the measure that it will send to Christie's office. The board unanimously agreed with the sentiments of the letter, however, they exhibited some trepidation as to its language, wondering if it was strong and direct enough. Routh offered to redraft the letter, but he and the committee are not confident that Trenton will listen to their concerns in the first place.
"My understanding is that Christie has basically decided to do it and the ball is rolling down the track," Routh said.
"Basically, what this resolution is saying is that this is a local issue, not a state issue," said board member Richard Connor. "I think that no matter what we send, it is going to be ignored. But you don't not do something just because you are not going to win; you do things because you think they are right."
