Schools

Berkeley Schools Super To Receive Additional $28,250 In Pay, According To New Contract

Replacement contract for James D. Roselli goes into effect on Tuesday

By Patricia A. Miller

Berkeley Schools Superintendent James D. Roselli could earn more than  Gov. Chris Christie soon, thanks to hefty "merit" increases approved by the Board of Education recently.

The board voted five to one at the June board meeting to replace Roselli's current contract from 2012 with a new one that would add $28,250 to his paycheck for the coming school year.

The new contract is slated to go into effect Tuesday and runs through June 30, 2019. It includes five "merit" increases for 2014, which would bring Roselli's total compensation to $178,250. Gov. Chris Christie's salary is capped at $175,000.

Board member and former board vice-president James Fulcomer cast the lone no vote on the increase.

Fulcomer called the board's approval of the replacement contract and the merit increases "the biggest salary grab in the history of Berkeley Township."

"To me, this is absolutely outrageous," Fulcomer said. "I cannot support it. It's contrary to the people of Berkeley Township."

Ironically, Roselli suggested the board replace his contract and institute the merit increases, Fulcomer said.

"The merit bonus will be based upon his achievement of quantitative merit criteria and/or qualitative criteria," according to the contract. "The board and superintendent can select up to three quantitative criteria and up to two qualitative criteria per contract year," the contract states.

The superintendent will receive an additional 3.33 percent of his base salary for each quantitative bonus approved by the board, and 2.5 percent for each qualitative criteria, according to the contract.

The Ocean County Superintendent of Schools has to sign off on the merit increases to make sure they are justified, the contract states.

One less job

Roselli was appointed in 2012, after a two-year search for a replacement superintendent, at a salary of $148,000. His previous contract called for him to serve as acting director of Special Services, with no additional compensation. His current salary is $150,000.

But he will not serve as special services director anymore, according to the new contract. That means the district will have to either appoint another acting director or hire a new one, probably at a salary of over $100,000, Fulcomer said.

Roselli's maximum salary under the old contract was $155,000 - the state cap for superintendents in K-6 districts - which he would have reached in 2017, the last year of the old contract. of the state cap for superintendents in K-6 districts.

The new contract calls for a $5,000 salary increase and $23,500 in merit increases. State law allows school boards to award merit bonuses to exceed the cap.

"He will end up with $178,250 in his pocket, which is more than the governor of the state is making," Fulcomer said.

By contrast, Central Regional Superintendent Triantafillos Parlapanides is in the middle of a five-year contract with his salary capped at $154,000 per year. Parlapanides had offered to do the Berkeley superintendent job for free several years ago, but the board never interviewed him.

Another week of vacation

The new contract also jacks up Roselli's vacation days, from 20 to 25 per year. He also gets 15 sick days, four personal days and all holidays on the school calendar.

The Berkeley school district consists of four elementary schools, grades K-6.

Board President Noriko Kowalewski and board members Louis Tuminaro, Edward Cammarato, Sal Ferlise and Steven Pellecchia voted to approve the replacement contract.

Board members John MacMoyle and Keith Fischer abstained. Board member Patrick Mooney was absent.

"I am proud I voted no," Fulcomer said. "I wish other people had voted no."

What do you think of the Berkeley superintendent's new contract? Tell us in the comments below.



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