Superintendent Charles Sampson is up for an 11.45 percent merit-based pay raise for achieving a majority of the quantitative and qualitative merit goals for the 2011-2012 school year.
Superintendents’ salaries were capped last year under Gov. Chris Christie’s school reform agenda, making Sampson’s salary $177,500. The governor capped superintendents salaries in an effort to deflate administrative earnings and keep more money in the classroom.
Under the new legislation, superintendents are eligible for merit-based pay raises. The merit goals, which are a part of the superintendent’s employment contract, are created each year by the state, according to Sampson. The different annual measures have a maximum of 14.99 percent, as per all superintendents’ contracts and every year the contract is considered for the maximum percentage allowed by law.
This year, Sampson is up for consideration for a component of that percentage based on the merit goals the district completed, meaning Sampson achieved enough goals to warrant an 11.45 percent raise, but did not attain each goal approved by the Board of Education on Feb. 27.
After the goals were approved by the Board this winter, they were sent over to the County Superintendent for approval. Now that the school year is over, Sampson had to prove which of the goals the district met.
At Monday’s Board of Education meeting, the Board adopted a resolution approving the list of merit goals accomplished by Sampson. Now, this list of goals will be sent to the County Superintendent for approval. If the County Superintendent signs off on the achievement of these goals and finalizes them, Sampson will receive $20,037.50.
The goals are separated into two categories: quantitative and qualitative. Marlboro resident Jim Sage told Sampson that he thought the qualitative goals he achieved were a function of the superintendent’s job description and should not be approved.
“It seems tantamount to pay the superintendent twice for doing his job,” Sage said.
Several other residents voiced consternation over the merit-based pay system. Gloria Close, of Manalapan, said that all of the merit goals should be folded into the superintendent’s job responsibilities.
“If you do not accomplish those goals, it’s as simple as you must leave and if you accomplish those goals then you retain your job,” Close said.
The merit goals are a component of the superintendent's cap, Sampson explained, and this new payment structure is what was changed by Christie.
"We've complied with the state requirements," said Sampson. "Period."
It's more like the problems with MaMu and the other big banks in the mortgage crisis. The regional and local school budgets along with the County ratables don't have the differential impact raising my property taxes that the Township tax does. And, if this area didn't have a regional HS district, there would be more administrative staff (6 high schools) to hire and pay, as opposed to just those working over at the Pine Street building in Englishtown.
If you look at the budgetary line items on the tax assessment issued to every property owner, the school budgets have a differential rate that is small in comparison to the other budgetary line items. You need to go off topic to discuss the actual problem. The price of salt and sand for snow plowing has increased. The school taxes didn't go up 35%. People in this regional area need to stop blaming the school administrators, the teachers, and the school bus drivers for a government budget problem that may have been caused the all of those people owning and leasing property in the regional area working for the big banks paying their paycheck. Municipal underwriters who finance local governement are the big banks. They don't finance the school budgetary line item on the tax assessment issued to every property owner.
The actual property re-assessment contributes to the tax increase, but the 2% overall budget cap should be tied to the "ratable pie".
I agree this is a devious way to circumvent the salary caps imposed by Christie. As for Superintendent Sampson, he was awarded a 11.45% "merit raise" on top of his $177,500.00 salary. The raise is based on his salary--the highest in the state of New Jersey. Mr. Sampson just came to the district a year ago, and is getting rewarded for DOING HIS JOB! This is an outrage. If he doesn't like the outrage--then show him the door. But the Board of Education not only gave him the maximum salary (should have started in lower increments maxing out in three years) They APPROVED the "merit" pay increase as well. Not one member from the video shown on the FRHSD.com web site spoke against this. Members of the community did--and I agree with them.
http://www.frhsd.com/district/index.php?q=node/2868
http://www.taxpayerwaste.com
She's really nice, and can you provide you with the information you need when you go to the Gov's Office.
http://www.taxpayerwaste.com
Does Sampson's contract spell out what kind of PhD? If it is it education, that is totally useless for the CEO of a school district. He should be required to get his degree in Business or Economics!
He currently is enrolled in a doctorate program. Therefore, you are paying for that AND you will be paying for it in a permanent form of extra compensation as long as he is employed in the Freehold Regional High School District. So clam up and pay up!!! Contract:http://www.frhsd.com/district/files/Contract-FRHSD.pdf
http://www.frhsd.com/district/files/Contract-FRHSD.pdf
School Administrator salaries: Primary discussion surrounded the bonus being paid out to FRHSD Superintendent Samson of about $20,000, which puts him significantly above the pay cap limit for that job. OUTCOME: Governor’s office is asking the NJ State Board of Education to review this to determine if it did indeed violate the salary cap. Either way, we will have an answer returned to us and will post at www.taxpayerwaste.com.