Sparta school district is top heavy

What an eye-opener the article entitled “Super-Sized Salaries” in the Feb. 19t Sunday Star-Ledger was. This article has said what I have been saying all along: There’s too much fat at the top. Dr. Morton’s salary of $195,415 plus the hidden salary, otherwise known as perks, of $5,100, is the highest in Sussex, Warren, and Morris counties. What is even more disturbing is that we have two assistant superintendents who are receiving salaries that are higher than 41 of the 47 superintendents listed in the Star Ledger’s article. Ron Wolfe makes $152,515 with perks and Dr. Kathleen Monks makes $150,315 with perks. If this isn’t bad enough, our high school principal is paid a salary of $143,184 which is higher than 39 of the 47 superintendents listed. You may have noticed that of the superintendents mentioned, Wayne Threlkeld of Hopatcong worked for 19 years in dual positions: as superintendent and as business administrator, thereby saving his district hundreds of thousands of dollars. Joseph DiPasquale of Wallkill Valley has doubled as principal and superintendent for the past 18 years. He has saved his district over $1 million throughout the years. Robert Walker, superintendent for 22 years in Kittatinny Regional, states that he fought for and helped secure extra federal aid, thus estimating that his district received approximately $4 million in impact aid over the years to offset taxes. In Sparta, we hire a principal at $105,000 to be administrator over about 350 students in a one-grade level school that is housed within the Sparta Board of Education building. Why can’t one of our three overpaid top administrators who are also housed in this building, handle this job as they do in other districts? In the past, the assistant superintendent in charge of curriculum and staff development, Naomi Pagano who was replaced by Dr. Monks, also acted as principal of Mohawk Avenue School. Why can’t Dr. Monks do the same for a reasonable stipend and save our district at least $90,000? In addition, these three well-respected superintendents, Threlkeld, DiPasquale, and Walker, have served their districts for 26, 18, and 22 years respectively in these positions. These years of experience within one district provide continuity which should be rewarded. We in Sparta unfortunately have had no benefit of continuity for years. Our board of education throws taxpayer money at newly hired administrators before they have proven themselves. If this board of education does not take charge of these top administrators, vote them out in the next election. Phillys Seranni Sparta