With sick time, Long Branch superintendent received $305,099 in one year

In needy districts, some are well paid

In some of the state's poorest communities, school superintendents make more money than the governor or the chief justice of the state Supreme Court.

In Camden, former school Superintendent Annette Knox boosted her 2004-05 salary of $180,081 by cashing in $11,630 in unused sick time, and she was given a car to drive. But there was a limit to the school board's largess.

Knox resigned when the board claimed she took $18,000 in unauthorized performance bonuses. Her replacement — Bessie LeFra Young — is paid $220,000 in one of America's poorest cities. The state pays 84 percent of the district's budget.

In Asbury Park, former Superintendent Robert H. Mann was given a $310,000 severance package in addition to his $120,750 salary to settle what the school board said in 2000 was a clash of "leadership styles."

In Long Branch, Superintendent Joseph Ferraina was paid $305,099 during 2004-05 for supervising about 5,000 children. That's about $61 per child.

Ferraina received an extra $111,950, most of it unused sick time, to add to his reported base salary of $193,149.

The deals given Knox, Ferraina and Mann were criticized in a March 2006 State Commission of Investigation report titled, "Taxpayers Beware: What You Don't Know Can Cost You."

The report found "a range of questionable and excessive practices that, collectively, cost unsuspecting New Jersey taxpayers millions of dollars."

"Lucrative provisions of these privately negotiated deals enable superintendents and others at the top tier of public school administration to receive compensation and benefits often well beyond the reach of any other class of public-service employees," the report concludes.

State spending on education has ballooned to $11.5 billion, an increase of nearly 30 percent in four years. Approximately half of that money goes to the state's 31 neediest school districts.

Ferraina made no apologies for his compensation.

"I have nothing to hide," Ferraina said in an interview. "Had I been in private industry, I'd be a multimillionaire. I'd be making $150 million. Why? It's real easy. I'm a visionary. I look at the future. I have ideas. But I don't want to make $150 million. I want to make a difference in society. I want to be able to help the children of this community."

His sick days, he says, were accumulated over more than 30 years of service to the district, as a teacher, school principal and superintendent.

Mann and Knox could not be reached for comment.

Asbury Park, Camden and Long Branch are considered by the state to be among the 31 most needy in the state, commonly called Abbott districts.

Driven in large part by increased spending on the Abbott districts, education funding statewide has jumped from $4.7 billion in 1998 to $8.1 billion in 2008 — an increase of 72 percent, according to budget documents provided to state lawmakers by the state treasurer. When adjusted for inflation, the increase comes in at 35 percent.

While other low-income districts — especially Camden — captured headlines for failing to improve student performance, Ferraina points with pride to progress made in Long Branch.

"There's a brand-new preschool, a brand-new middle school, a high school, two brand-new elementary schools," he said. His district had expansion plans ready when the state money was first made available.

He says that test scores, especially for younger students, have improved dramatically in his district.

In 1999, for example, 28.2 percent of Long Branch's fourth-graders passed state language and literacy tests. In 2007, 77.7 percent passed the tests, he said.

In 1999, 33.1 percent of fourth-graders passed math tests. In 2007, 71.8 percent passed the test.

Ferraina said he has worked hard to earn his salary and benefits during his 32 years of service.

"It's legal," he said.