The Parsippany school board is the gift that keeps on giving for those who want an example of how out of control these bodies are. It had a chance to rescind the end-run, five-year contract of Superintendent Lee Seitz as it was ordered to do by the Education Department, but didn't. Four members wanted to, four didn't and one recused himself because a district employee is a family member. (Question: Wouldn't that be a reason for recusing himself for everything?) More than that, the board is suing the state in court and its lawyer, Mark Tabakin, says so far his firm had billed $8,000 for the 21-page brief. Board member Louis Valori wanted to know if the board could get the money back and the lawyer said no. Tabakin told Seitz he might have cause to sue the board if the contract is tossed. My colleague Rob Jennings of the Daily Record reported Board President Anthony Mancuso, and members Frank Calabria, Frank Neglia and Deborah Orme voted against rescinding. Andrew Choffo recused himself.
Jeff Weingarten, a Tea Party organizer from Clifton, said he planned to recruit candidates to challenge school board members seeking re-election.
Gov. Christie in July called for capping school administrator salaries at $175,000 starting in February. Boards, like Parsippany, have been trying to extend contracts before they're ended to get around the ban.
In Jersey City, the board tried that with Dr. Charles Epps whose salary is -- now get this -- indexed to Newark. So he makes about $280,000 for a districts with 30,000 kids and a lot of awful schools. A coalition led by Councilman Steve Fulop, board member Sterling Waterman and activist Shelley Skinner filed suit to stop the extension. A judge ruled the board has to come and testify. That should tie things up a while.
"It was sad that the politicians who supported the contract put their politics in front of the school kids to try and sneak in a contract extension of $280,000 to a superintendent with 30 out of 35 failing schools," said Fulop.
Perhaps Charles Epps is a familiar name. He took himself and others on a trip in 2004 at state expense. Trip expenses included $400 on chauffeured limos and one meal where $160 was paid for two ribs of beef and $25 for two bowls of asparagus soup. He used to double dip as a member of the Assembly. And his district is one of the Abbotts, the 31 districts that get 60 percent of the state education budget.
