24 May 2010

No More Teachers, Lot's of Perks, This Is How It Really Works!

May 24, 2010 10:59 pm US/Eastern I-Team: Superintendents' Super Pay & Perks Reporting


Jim Osman PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―

In these difficult economic times, the CBS 3 I-Team decided to request contracts for school superintendents in 15 districts so we could see how they're compensated.

That includes Cherry Hill where they've cut 45 teachers, sports and music programs.
Superintendent Dr. David Campbell's salary is $277, 392 a year. The state average is 160-thousand a year.
Dr. Campbell says his experience and work ethic justify the pay.
"Most superintendents I know have an average work week of 60 hours and 70 to 80 hours is not uncommon," said Campbell.
Since 2007 Dr. Campbell has been reimbursed more than $23,000 for expenses including since June 2006 a total of $15,000 in payments for a monthly car allowance.
Plus, 16-hundred of your tax dollars paid for Dr. Campbell to go to a five day conference in Florida. That covers airfare and hotel.
We even found a meal receipt at the Capital Grille in Orlando.
We found another $1900 tab for Dr. Campbell for a conference trip to New Orleans.
The Superintendent says the conferences are continuing education.
"To me our goal for young people is to be a life long learner and the Superintendent should be the poster child for life long learning," said Campbell.

In Washington Township education cuts have hit hard as well.
"We lost about 93 positions. Some of them ranged from administrators to gifted and talented teachers to elementary teachers," said Simone.
Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Simone makes $182,000 per year.
She gets a $300 monthly allowance for traveling the district.
She has spent about 10-thousand dollars since 2005 on conference trips.
Simone has agreed to a pay freeze. She will forgo a 5-thousand raise she was due to share in the sacrifice.

Ken Hartman, a former Cherry Hill school board member, says parents need to become involved at a time like this.
"It is not only their right but also their responsibility to ask the difficult questions." said Hartman.

For example, let's take the Medford Township School District.
Dr. Joseph Del Rossi's contract - if he accrues enough unused sick and vacation time - could get a $280-thousand dollar payout when he leaves the district.

In the Lenape High School District, Emily Capella received a 15 percent raise since 2008. She now makes $213,000 a year.
Plus, she receives an additional $12,000 a year in a stipend to pay for expenses.
The district also gives her a car and a computer for use at home.
And she doesn't have her Doctorate degree unlike the other Superintendents in this story.

The Medford and Lenape Superintendents refused to do "on-camera interviews" even when we showed up in person.
Some school superintendents say its market forces which dictate salaries and perks.

Recent changes in New Jersey Department of Education "accountability regulations" have reined in some of the perks in future Superintendent contracts.
For example, in Dr. Campbell's case from Cherry Hill, he'll be reimbursed mileage for any district travel.
There will be no more car allowance.

A number of local superintendents are taking pay freezes but we did find two who are taking massive pay cuts to save jobs.

1 comment:

Lucy said...

$277,000 per year for David Campbell. Din't he used to be the super of Colonial in New Castle County Delaware? Is this the same guy? My God. He must be a rich man by now.