School District of the Chatham Superintendent Contract
- by: Stacey Ewald and Education Counts
- recipient: Kathleen Serafino, Morris County Executive County Superintendent
Under Mr. O'Neill's guidance, the School District of the Chathams has continuously exhibited exceptional performance at a cost per pupil below the state average. Chatham taxpayers passed the 2010-2011 school budget in support of our schools and in order to ensure continued success in our schools. The Chatham school budget is funded over 96% by local property taxes. The State provides less than 4% of funding for our Chatham schools. By signing this petition you are telling the Morris County Superintendent that you support our Board of Ed's renegotiated contract with Mr. O'Neill, and you are sending a message to the State that the people of Chatham believe that the best decision for our schools is a local decision. The following is a discussion of the issue.
FROM THE EDUCATION COUNTS WEBSITE:
Mr. Jim O'Neill, our Superintendent of Schools, is in the last year of his contract. Our BOE is working to put together a fair contract to ensure that Mr. O'Neill stays on in Chatham. According to the new proposed superintendent salary cap, Mr. O'Neill would take roughly a $40K pay cut in the next school year. Mr. O'Neill is a leader in our district and in the state of New Jersey. Mr. O'Neill has served as an advocate for not just the students in Chatham but all children in the state of New Jersey. Mr. O'Neill has always ensured that Chatham schools perform well at a very efficient level. His loss would be a very hard hit to our district. Another major factor is that our current central office administration is all new other than Mr. O'Neill. This year alone we have a new Assistant Superintendent, Director of Special Education, and Business Administrator. We need Mr. O'Neill to train and guide the new administration to ensure that quality leadership prevails in Chatham.
Our Board of Education is going to propose a tentative contract for Mr. O'Neill on December 13. The contract offered less than a 2% annual raise over the next three years. This raise is well within the state imposed budget cap of 2%. All indications lead us to believe that the Morris County Superintendent and state department of education will not accept the proposed contract.
With over 96% of the funding for our schools coming from local property taxes the residents of Chatham should be able to make decisions based on what is best for our town and our schools. Trenton should not dictate what is best for us based on a one size fits all model.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Governor Chris Christie proposed a regulation to limit school superintendents' salaries based on the number of students in their districts. The effective date of this proposed regulation is February 7, 2011. The Governor has pressed his County Superintendent's to reject superintendent contracts submitted before February 7th. From the Star Ledger, "on Nov. 15,... Education Commissioner Rochelle Hendricks warned county superintendents not to approve any contracts before Christie's cap on superintendent salaries takes effect Feb. 7." This is being challenged in the courts by the Parsippany school district. The Morris County Schools Superitendent Kathleen Serafino ordered the Parsippany Board of Ed to rescind its recently extended contract with their school superintendent. From the Star Ledger, "The Parsippany Board of Education has filed a lawsuit demanding that its superintendent be granted a contract extension..." Relevant artlcles from NJ.com are provided in the links.
The School District of the Chathams Board of Ed had anticipated approving a renegotiated 3-year contract with its Superintendent of Schools, Jim O'Neill, at it's December 13th Board meeting. They have since learned that they cannot approve this contract until it is approved by you. The contract includes a negotiated annual raise of less than 2% which is within the State imposed school budget cap. For a number of reasons outlined below, we are respectfully requesting that you approve this renegotiated contract.
Under Mr. O'Neill's leadership, the schools in our district have continually maintained exceptional performance at a cost per pupil that is below the state average. While there are many factors that contribute to the success of the district, Mr O'Neill's excellence as a leader in education cannot be disregarded. Aside from being a skilled and experienced manager in the day to day operations of a sizeable and continuously growing district, as is Chatham, Mr O'Neill has time and again exhibited his value as a leader in education in NJ and in our community. Whether evaluating research in education in determining the direction of curriculae or working with community members to manage budgets, it is this leadership quality that has set the tone and direction resulting in a high performing district at a below average cost.
There are other, pedantic reasons for renewing Mr. O'Neill's contract. As a result of State implemented and recommended regulations, many of our central school office administrators have taken retirement, including our Asst Superintendent, our Director of Special Education and our Business Administrator. It is critical that Mr. O'Neill continue with the School District of the Chathams in order to ensure a smooth transition of new Central Office Administrators and to ensure continued success in our school district.
The School District of the Chathams budget is funded 96% by local property taxes. The State contributes less than 4% toward our local school budgets. Chatham Borough and Chatham Township voted YES to approve the 2010-2011 school budget, as they have for budgets past. Our locally elected Board of Ed members have reviewed and vetted our budgets and our superintendent's contract and we ask you to respect their decision to implement the renegotiated contract with our Superintendent of Schools, Jim O'Neill.
Thank you for your consideration.
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