Sparta school controversy over compensation continues

SPARTA - Sparta Board of Education member Paul Johnson and President David Slavin got in one more round of sparring just eight days before the April 18 school election. At Monday night’s meeting, Johnson, who is in a six-way race for three available seats on the board, renewed his allegations that Slavin and Superintendent Thomas Morton have been disingenuous and less than forthcoming about the upcoming referendum, board procedures and administrative salaries. Slavin, whose seat is not involved in the coming election, repeated that neither he nor Morton had done anything improper. The principal issue was the ongoing debate over a recent board-approved measure that will roll back into the base salaries of the district’s senior administrators some benefit payments, such as extra disability premiums and compensation for in-district travel. The measure, which was approved 5-4, will affect the salaries of Morton and his two assistants. Slavin was among the five members approving the decision. Johnson complained that Slavin voted despite a recent state ethics ruling that prohibits board members from voting on personnel issues when a family member is actively employed by the school district. Slavin’s wife is a teacher in the district. “The day I voted, absolutely not,” said Slavin, denying prior knowledge of the ethics decision. “I go by state guidelines right down the line. There are many times I’ve backed out when (there was) an issue.” Johnson suggested that the school board get a clarification from the state because the alleged voting impropriety may extend beyond Slavin. The narrow vote came on the heels of a state investigation into “questionable and excessive” compensation packages awarded by New Jersey school boards to attract and retain top administrators at the expense of millions of taxpayer dollars. The report, which did not mention the Sparta School District, said some boards engaged in creative accounting to raise the base salary of administrators and, in some cases, circumvent informing voters. “The significance (of the clarification) is that it was a 5-4 vote,” said board member Michael Schiavoni. “That one vote made a difference if it passed or not.” After examining the payrolls of dozens of school districts around the state, the State Commission of Investigation found that the most coveted administrators were lavished with cars, computers, cell phones, improper pension increases and donations to tax-deferred annuities. The report suggested that state officials taking measures to ensure that expenditures by school administrators are reasonable and appropriate and that citizens are adequately informed about how their money is spent. “You know the bottom line of what these folks make,” said Slavin. “We are hiding nothing, but I’m sorry to say not all school districts can say the same thing.” The school board’s move increases the superintendent’s annual salary from $195,415 to $200,915 by rolling back a $300 per month in-district travel allowance, a $400 incentive to undergo a physical examination, and $1,500 a year in tax-deferred annuity payments. Morton said he would receive additional compensation for travel outside the district. Ron Wolfe, assistant superintendent for business, will have his annual salary increased from $148,515 to $154,415; and Kathleen Monks, assistant superintendent for curriculum and development, will receive an increase from $148,515 to $150,715. The school board plans to move into the new academic year by adding a director of curriculum to its tentative 2006-2007 budget. Morton said the “teaching position” will help develop new curriculum and improve standardized test scores at the high school level. The position is budgeted to cap at $110,000 when salary and benefits are tabulated. “This is the person who is going to work with the teachers,” said Morton, who insisted he would not replace teachers with administrators. “The purpose of having this new person is for them to work with the teachers to make them better. I think the district needs two or three of these people to function effectively down the road.” Melba Cummings, the teachers’ union district president, said curriculum development had previously been a role filled by department heads, until they were all let go three years ago. “These are expensive positions,” said Schiavoni. “We owe it to ourselves and the community to make it exactly clear what these positions are for.” Cummings said in the past, the school superintendent, principal and department heads all taught classes. Morton said the new curriculum director would not be required to teach. Sparta is currently in the bottom third of all “I” district schools in academic performance ranking. The “I” classification, or District Factor Group, defines a community’s socioeconomic status. A is for the poorest, and J is for the wealthiest. Morton said that outside of the existing assistant superintendent, the school district doesn’t employ another administrator to oversee curriculum and development. He said all other “I” district schools staff administrative curriculum heads at every level.