NJ passes new procedure for hiring supers

By: Phil Gregory

The measure comes after some large payouts caused controversy, including more than seven hundred thousand dollars in special payments for a retiring school superintendent in Keansburg.

By: Phil Gregory
pgregory@wbgo.org

The New Jersey Assembly has passed a bill that would require all school districts to use a standard format contract when hiring a new superintendent. The measure comes after some large payouts caused controversy, including more than seven hundred thousand dollars in special payments for a retiring school superintendent in Keansburg.

Listen:
[audio: 090521pgsupers.mp3]

The measure was sponsored by Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan. He says the standardized contract would apply to all aspects of a superintendent’s employment.

Diegnan: Like accumulated sick time, vacation time. Payouts which in some cases has been several hundred thousand dollars. No more secret clauses or unknown clauses in a contract.

The legislation sets a range for the payouts that could be made to a retiring superintendent, rather than a specific monetary limit. Diegnan says if there are more abuses, lawmakers could enact stronger regulations.