Would Gov. Chris Christie cut Woodbridge schools superintendent’s salary?

by Sergio Bichao on Jul 15th | Email

Woodbridge Superintendent John Crowe

Gov. Chris Christie wants to cap salaries of New Jersey school superintendents and administrators to, in most cases, no more than $175,000 -- a move that would mean pay cuts for hundreds of officials after their current contracts expired.

It is unclear whether Christie's proposal, which has yet to be introduced in the legislature, would affect Woodbridge superintendent John Crowe's $187,000 salary.

The salary scale under Christie's proposal is tied to district enrollment, with superintendents in charge of districts with up to 10,000 students earning no more than $175,000.

Superintendents in districts with more than 10,000 students -- such as Woodbridge, which enrolls nearly 13,500 students -- would have their salaries negotiated with the state Department of Education, according to Home News Tribune reporter Leo Rommel, who covered Christie's announcement in Spotswood today.

Amid a budget crunch this spring, Crowe voluntarily gave up a contractual 4 percent raise for next year. Other administrators at the district office also froze their salaries.

The district teachers union, however, declined to open their contract to freeze their salaries for a year, a move that would have saved about $2.6 million.

Other superintendents in Middlesex County earn more than Crowe, some more than $200,000.

• Richard M. Kaplan in New Brunswick makes $221,431

• John Rodecker in Perth Amboy makes $216,360

• Jo Ann Magistro in East Brunswick makes $209,500

• Simon M. Bosco in Old Bridge makes $205,000

• Robert L. Copeland in Piscataway makes $201,170