Super Cuts: Superintendent Salary Would Nosedive Under Christie Plan

Morris School District Superintendent Thomas Ficarra would eventually have to take a pay cut of at least $33,000, under Gov. Chris Christie's plan to cap school chiefs' salaries.

Earlier this summer, Christie announced he is seeking to cap the state's superintendent salaries based on district size. Under the new limits, superintendents of school districts like the 4,700-student Morris School District—which serves all public school students in Morristown and Morris Township, and ninth-through-12th graders in Morris Plains—wouldn't be able to make more than $175,000 a year.

Ficarra, superintendent of the Morris School District since 2002, currently makes $208,223, placing his salary $33,223 above the $175,000 ceiling for school districts with student populations between 3,001 and 10,000 under Christie's proposal. Ficarra would not be affected by any proposed cut until it was time for a contract renewal, set for three years from now.

But Ficarra isn't the only one Christie feels is overpaid. According to New Jersey Department of Education data, 386 school superintendents currently earn more than the new salary cap would permit, the Office of the Governor said in a release.

The release also said overpaid superintendents cost school districts a total of $9.8 million, based on current salaries.

Ficarra said so many conflicting reports in the news about the issue has led him to adopt a wait-and-see approach. 

"One never knows what to think," he said in regards to reports on the proposal. "I want to wait and see what the results and regulations actually are."

An educator for 35 years, Ficarra was previously superintendent in Mount Arlington. He also has previously been an assistant superintendent, principal, vice principal, and social studies teacher, beginning his career in the Elizabeth Public School District.

Ficarra says as a result of the ongoing budget crisis in the district, he requested a pay freeze when his contract was up for renewal earlier this year.

"I told the board [of education] not to consider a raise for me, and I asked the unions to do the same."

His salary is comparable to those of other superintendents in the area. Richard Noonan, of the Madison School District, makes $228,662 a year. Leroy Seitz, in Parsippany-Troy Hills, earns $212,020.

Ficarra said he thinks the proposed caps, if approved, "are going to create unforeseen problems."

"If we require people to have years of experience and doctorates and we are competing with neighboring school districts in other states, eventually people are going to go," he said. "In the long-run, it's detrimental to the state."

In 2008, the Legislature gave the state commissioner, Bret Schundler, the ability to cap superintendent compensation. Schundler's spokespeople recently said he would impose the limits as soon as possible.

Christie's announcement also irked New Jersey Association of School Administrators Executive Director Richard G. Bozza. He said state government shouldn't control local superintendent salaries.

"We are dismayed to hear that locally negotiated school administrator contracts are categorized as abuse and we believe a blanket statewide salary cap is not the answer," Bozza said in a July 15 press release. "New Jersey education administrative costs are less than those in 41 other states, and have been negotiated by taxpayers' elected school board local officials. Educational needs, as well as future contracts, should remain a local issue."

For now, Ficarra said he would concentrate on the job he was hired to do.

"I am focused on the job I'm doing as superintendent, and not what could happen three years from now," he said.

Christie's superintendent salary chart:

Up to 250 students: $120,000
251 - 750: $135,000
751 - 1,500: $150,000
1,501 - 3,000: $165,000
3,001 - 10,000: $175,000
More than 10,000: Determined by the Department of Education