School Board To Meet Tuesday, Asst. Super Contracts Up For Vote
Toms River Regional School Board to decide three assistant superintendent contracts
Former Toms River North Principal James Hauenstein has been appointed assistant superintendent. The board will vote on his contract tonight.
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The employment contracts for Toms River Regional's three assistant superintendents may be decided Tuesday.
The Toms River Regional School Board will meet in public session at 7:30 p.m. at Toms River High School North. The board will begin in executive session at 6:15 p.m.
The annual contracts of assistant superintendents Debra McKenna and James Hauenstein and interim assistant Superintendent Joseph Pizza expired on June 30.
The contracts were originally on the June regular board meeting agenda, but were removed after the board emerged from executive session, with Board President Ed Gearity saying they were removed for further discussion.
That meeting, the contracts of Superintendent Frank Roselli and Business Administrator Bill Doering did pass, but the assistant superintendents' respective contracts were tabled. Two board members were absent from the meeting and some others have conflicts of interest that required their abstention from a particular contract.
The contracts proposed for Tuesday's meeting are similar to the ones proposed a month ago, found here.
Interim Superintendent Joseph Pizza
- $510 per day, not to exceed 260 days. The contract is for one year, July 1 to June 30, 2013. While he isn’t entitled to sick days, Pizza does receive mileage reimbursement and a cell phone. Pizza is filling the vacancy created by the retirement of William Cardone.
Assistant Superintendent Debra McKenna
McKenna’s annual salary in the new contract would be $172,380. McKenna would also receive $15,000 for the year to place into a tax-deferred annuity.
There are 25 days paid vacation, all of which would be carried over to subsequent years. However the contract says a payout not to exceed 50 vacation days would be available upon retirement.
McKenna would be allowed 15 paid sick days and five personal days. Payout of unused sick time upon retirement cannot exceed $15,000.
McKenna would be also entitled to health benefits as well, such as major medical, prescription, vision and dental plans.
Assistant Superintendent James Hauenstein
Hauenstein was hired as a superintendent in September 2011 from his principal position at high school north, to fill the vacancy created by Roselli's move to superintendent.
His salary for the year ending June 30, 2013 will be $158,100.
Hauenstein would receive 20 days paid vacation, all of which can be carried over to subsequent years. However the contract says a payout not to exceed 40 vacation days would be available upon retirement.
Hauenstein would be allowed 12 paid sick days and five personal days. Payout of unused sick time upon retirement cannot exceed $15,000.
Hauenstein would be also entitled to health benefits as well, such as major medical, prescription, vision and dental plans.
Attached as a .pdf file is the agenda as posted Monday evening.
Mr. ?
8:57 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
Hey Patch! a little more info here please?....."Two board members were absent from the meeting ( WHO? ) and some others ( AGAIN, WHO? ) have conflicts of interest that required their abstention from a particular contract." Thanks!
Catherine Galioto
7:33 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
That was reported previously, if you follow the links. Jubert and Baxter were absent. Jubert, Baxter, Kakavas and Gearity have conflicts.
HR
9:18 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
Sickening salaries and time off and perks while the taxpayers of this town are struggling Let's not forget the fourth Asst Super disguised as a principal but still getting a Super's salary.
fedupintr
9:26 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
I work for the school as a para with Special Ed, I have been in this district for 7 years . I make about $9000.00 a year. These people should stop being so selfish. I can't even get a contract ! Something is definitley wrong in this district. Our schools are filthy ,they are cutting back on custodians. This is just disgusting!
Alan K
9:45 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
What do these people do that they deserve such high salaries? I'm willing to bet that my doctor doesn't make this kind of money. His compensation is controlled by insurance companies and Medicare. These bureaucrats in the school system go before a bunch of their cronies and get a fat contract. Totally ridiculous. If these "Asst" jobs are needed, place an ad in Indiana or somewhere for the openings. I bet you'll find qualified people that would take the job for 75K.
JD
10:19 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
Instead of complaining on Patch...
show up at the meeting Tuesday night and complain...
There are 4 individuals who have conflicts of interest who cannot vote on these contracts...
Baxter, Kakavas, Jubert, Gearity...
they all have family members working in the district in the chain of command to the assistants.
fedupintr
10:31 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
Complain to who ? It will fall on deaf ears ! The teachers complain all the time about the lack of supplies . No one listens,but let's give these people more money to do nothing about all the things wrong with our buildings.
Greg
7:25 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
fedupintr: I personally have hear residents go up to the mike and try and fight for the supplies that you are saying that the teacher are not receiving. As soon as the residents sit down there are teacher who come up to the mike and shout down the residents and tell them that they have no idea what they are talking about that the teacher of this district have everything that they need right at they fingertips. Well, "fedupintr" who is not telling the truth?
Mrs. J
9:23 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Question JD, would these four you just mentioned happen to be from the Mike Ritaco era?
JD
9:44 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Mrs. J...
All 4 are from Ritacco era...
Kakavas and Jubert are up for re-election.
Greg
11:10 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Mrs. J., you are absolutely correct in you assumption. Here are the members of the Ritacco 6: Mr. Mike Jedziniak, Mr. Tom Baxter, Mr. Ed Gearity, Mrs. Jamie Ann Jubert, Mr. Jack Reuther and Mr. Gus Kakavas. This coming November here are three of the Ritacco Six who are up for reelection and they are Mr. Jack Reuther and Mr. Gus Kakavas from Toms River and Mrs. Jamie Ann Jubert from South Toms River. Then the following year the rest of the Ritacco Six are up and they are Mr. Mike Jedzinak from Pine Beach, Mr. Tom Baxter from Toms River and Mr. Ed Gearity from Beachwood. So come on all of the taxpayers of Toms River and South Toms River here is our chance to rid this board with the cancer that allowed Ritacco to get away with what he did for all of these years stealing money not only from the taxpayers but, he also stole money from the children and the teachers of this district.
Tired of the status quo
10:43 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
This is an absolute joke. This just goes to show the taxpayers of this school district that these people really think that we are a bunch of "sheeples" who are willing to just say "ok" to whatever they want these people to get paid! This goes to show how out of touch the "Ritacco 6" really are with the taxpayers. Lets see if I can remember who was missing from the meeting when they originally put these contract up for vote, I think it was Michael Jedziniak and Jame Ann Jubert who were missed that meeting. Then I think Gus Kakavas, Tom Baxter and Ed Garrity were the people who had a conflict with these contracts. Perhaps the State of NJ comes into this district and cleans house and put out a REAL search for someone who would do the job for a lot less money and most importantly have absolutely NO CONNECTIONS to anyone on the BOE. It is VERY unlikely that anyone from the State is going to come in and rid this district of the cancer that has been growing and growing for all of these years so, it is up to US the taxpayers of this district to rid the BOE of three of the six members of the Ritacco 6 and tell Frank Roselli that we are sick and tired of "business as usual." I always thought that the mission of a school district is EDUCATE the children with the best means possible, and not lining the pockets of the administrators!
HR
5:03 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
I can't go to the meetings and complain. I have kids in the schools. If you show up and complain, the administrators and teachers find out and all of the sudden your kid(s) start having trouble in school. It's a very vindictive cycle.
Greg
7:43 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
This goes to other people like "HR" who are afraid to come out to a meeting and complain because they are afraid that there are going to be some kind of repercussion done to their children if they open their mouth. CALL THE STATE! You can complain and not have to leave your name. See what happens when we just continue have the likes of Michael J. Ritacco sitting up there on the board and those who continue as Asst. Supers and others who are in administration and the BOE! You can only be a victim if you allow yourself to be one. Band together and come out and speak you minds because there is NO WAY that they are going to attack everyone who comes out to complain!
HR
8:53 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Greg I'm no victim. I was in the system, and know how it works. I have done my part to voice my opinion, like you've suggested and not a thing came of it and gain for fear of backlash, I'll leave it at that.
As for Brody down below, maybe you should go back to college if the only way you can communicate is by calling people's comments stupid. Even with a so called pay cut, benefits plus salary are unjustifiable for a guy with such little teaching experience. I feel bad for the actual hardworking teachers, they deserve that kind of pay. Not someone whose last name is what it is.
Donna Griffin
7:58 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Are contracts for these positions legally required? If so, that is where the change needs to occur. No one should have employment guarantees. If you perform well, you get paid. If you do not, it's time to be replaced. The same argument holds true for tenure. It was supposed to take care of that nasty little problem called nepotism. Doesn't seem to have worked so well on that point here in town. In the private sector, employees must prove themselves day in and day out. It's called a work ethic. It's called accountability. It's called rewarding effort. Why are public sector employees treated with such kid gloves on the taxpayers dime?
wheres murrow?
8:14 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
That is some serious coin the taxpayer is dishing out. How can three salaries for the same position be so contrasting? Is it a 132,000 dollar job or a 187,000 dollar per year job? Just another shining example of what really makes the nj property tax rates so out of line with the rest of the country, the bane of the nj homeowner = home rule.
fedupintr
9:01 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Greg the teachers that get up in those meetings are definitely not telling the truth,The reason they have all the supplies need is because they buy it themselves. The teachers in this district put alot of their own money into their classes.I myself bring alot of things in. The saying goes it takes a village to raise children ,well it takes an even bigger village to teach the children . The salaries of some of these people really need to be reevaluated.There are contracted para's and non contracted para's working 2 jobs because they can't make ends meet What is wrong with this?The buildings need alot of fixing and cleaning to be done. Take a walk thru any school on a rainy day,just be sure to watch the buckets catching the rain,not to mention the rain coming in thru the cracks in the classrooms. I would love to go to a meeting and complain ,but I agree with HR my family would be on the blacklist.
Donna Griffin
11:12 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
fedupintr - It seems that your teachers' union may not be working in your best interest if you need to dip into your own pocket for school supplies. The real problem is that the tax-paying public is a bottomless pit of cash for public sector administrators, unions officials and yes, dare I say, employees. THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY!!! Wasteful spending and poor results put private companies out of business. Wouldn't it be prudent then to hold school officials and educators to a high standard? After all, it's only our kids....
Greg
11:24 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
fedup and HR, if you all came out to a meeting to speak about what is going on in the classroom and tell the public just how these building are not being cleaned or repaired properly you just might be surprised at how much support you would get from the public. You are both correct that if you came out as an individuals they would try and do something underhanded to either you or your children but, if you came out in FORCE and all spoke they would be very hard pressed to do something to all of you. If any of this ever hit the paper you would see how the taxpayers are behind you. You the employees and parents of students of this district have the knowledge of what is and isn't going on with this district! You the employees and the parents have the facts about what is or isn't being done either with the education of our children or the up keep of these buildings. We are all in agreement that we want the best education for the children of this district as they are the future of this country.
Brody
8:42 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
These are some real stupid comments. 1st of all, the super who is supposedly disguised as a principal took a $70,000 pay cut to be a principal. Check your facts. Also..to the para who makes $9000 a year. I doubt anyone is holding a gun to your head to stay. If you dont like it, find work elsewhere and dont begrudge people who went to college and make more money. Yes...I agree these proposed salaries are over the top, but you need to go to board meetings and give your opinion. The excuse of having children in the district and worrying that they will not do as well if you are attend board meetings is a complete insult to the teachers and absoultely false!!
JD
9:25 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
A paraprofessional does NOT make 9k per year... they make about $20k/yr... it's in the meeting notes online!!!
http://www.trschools.com/administration/docs/attachments/ATT20120619P.pdf
feduptr is full of crap with her posts...
she fails to include the benefits package and how many hours she works per year.
Dee
9:10 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Family members working in the district, thats an understatment. Does anyone know who is up for election this November and whom is are the leftover Ritacoo board members?
fedupintr
9:34 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
JD a contracted para makes that . A non contracted para works the same hours,same job description with no benefits. They are paid 58.50 a day ,the days I need to be off are without pay.That is not in the meeting notes online. So please before you start accusing me of being full of crap get your facts straight. I think i would know how much i make and what my benefits are which is nothing . Thank god I don't need the health benefits
JD
9:46 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
fedupintr...
that is called a "Substitute"....
yes... you are full of crap... you moron.
there are full-time substitutes throughout the district.. substitute teachers make $80 or so.
Catherine Galioto
11:38 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Hi Dee, here is one of our articles about the ballot for November, for the school board election: http://patch.com/A-tQln
fedupintr
9:13 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Brody a person should get paid for the job they do. Your right no one is holding a gun to my head to stay. This job works for my family to be home when the kids are home,also if I were a contracted employee I would be making about 21/2 x more than I make now. The promise of a contract is always dangling and never comes. I also love what I do and have grown very fond of alot of these kids I work with. But to keep giving these salary increases is ludicrous.
fedupintr
9:56 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
JD you really are clueless, yes a sustitute teacher makes $80.Para's who come to work everyday and work in the same classroom for the whole school year without a contract,no benefits,does the same job as the para who is contracted. Yes we make $58.50 a day.The substitute para who goes in to a school when called to work because a para calls out sick makes $58.50 a day. So please stop with the name calling and get yourself educated because if anyone looks like a moron it's you.Go find a topic you do know about.
JD
10:13 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
fedupintr...
so what is your point...
You finally got it.... you are a sub-para... so what!!!
You claimed you were a para making 9k... now we find out you are a SUB-Para...
sleef
8:23 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
fedupintr - You made a conscious decision to take this job knowing it was non-contracted based on your family needs as stated. Yes, there is a discrepancy between contracted vs non-contracted paras, a position which does not require a teaching degree. As a non-contracted para, you do not have the benefit of union representation. It certainly wouldn't hurt to speak to Kathy Eagan, President of TREA, to see what they can do since they do, in fact, represent the contracted paras. Airing you concerns via the media isn't helping your situation. You said it yourself, "this job works for my family...". It's never a good idea to "bite the hand that feeds you", no matter where you choose to work in the public OR private sector.
fedupintr
10:25 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
JD please go back and read everything,you truly are clueless
JD
12:02 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
I disagree with what you said..
and sub-para's don't get a contract... duh!
Did you ever think maybe there is a reason they WON'T bring you on as a full-time para...
Now, if you want to discuss quality of teachers, supervisors, etc... different discussion. Regarding supplies and cleanliness of schools... I don't see it and I've been in several schools.
take_the_power_back
10:28 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Being someone who is new to this town (and being a homeowner) could someone please tell me where I can find out about where/when these meetings are, and where I can go to inform myself on the issues? While I have strong opinions on some of these issues, I don't feel that I'm well enough informed to stand up and let my voice be heard.
TIA
fedupintr
10:56 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Toms river board of ed web site
Greg
11:32 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
The School Board Meetings are every third Tuesday of the month and the Toms River Township Council Meeting are the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month and their agendas are listed on the Township web site. The meetings and meeting place is located on the Toms River Regional School District web site as are the committee meetings that are always held at 1144 Hooper Avenue. Please take the power back never be afraid to as a question the only stupid question is the question that is never asked!
JD
12:03 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Also, the website has the agenda and attachments for every meeting posted...
They are posted about a day before the meeting...
RPtoTR
12:17 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
My three children graduated from TRHS North. Mr. Hauenstein made significant positvie impact on the school and educational environment from the first day he started as principle. He is one of the good guys.
I do not think the salaries are out of line for highly professional, degreed. experienced educational experts. The question of course is do these individuals meet those requirements. I wish we could trust the BOE to make that assesment.
JD
12:36 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Albeit Hauenstein is a nice guy... he lacks the leadership to be in that position...
During his tenure as Principal of TRN...
1. TRN went from being ranked in the 50-60th percentile to the 35th percentile.
2. TRN did not make AYP for 8 years straight and counting.
3. TRN has a drug problem... moreso than any other HS in Toms River.
4. 1 of 3 students from TRN don't pass HSPA on the 1st round and can't graduate HS.. thereby requiring retests, etc etc.
RPtoTR
3:35 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
I can only comment on our experience and that of our children's peer group. I know many families, including my own, that have Honor Students and special needs students that were positiviely influenced by Mr Hauenstein. There was a significant improvement from the previous principal.
Some of the items you list look like parenting problems as well as educational.
JD
4:18 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Items 1, 2, and 4 are educational issues...
item 3.. I'm talking about drugs "IN" the school.... but yes... parenting issues...
Like I said... he is a nice guy... but lacks leadership skills to improve the schools...
blowitouturarse
11:47 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
my plumber and tatoo artist make more than these asst. superintendents.
blowitouturarse
11:49 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Why don't all you malcontents move to Lakewood?
blowitouturarse
11:56 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
There sure are alot of whiners in Toms River.
blowitouturarse
12:05 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
To the dimwit who thinks his doctor makes less than these asst. superintendents, do you live in this world?
blowitouturarse
12:07 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Put the custodians in charge. They will clean up the schools.
blowitouturarse
12:18 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Schools will soon be extinct. Elect Obama. You will get a free home,food and healthcare. No need to get an education.
sleef
8:37 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Catherine - Would you be so kind as to contact the BA, William Doering, at TRRSD and ask him to provide us with the years of teaching and administrative experience for Frank Roselli, Debra McKenna, James Hauenstein, Joseph Pizza and William Doering. Please also ask for clarification of Mr. Pizza "Interim" status and the length of time that he legally can serve in that position. I understand that he is a retired, former principal from the TRRSD and, I believe, has his own consulting (LLC) business.
ragtime
12:29 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
It stands to reason that these people would be compensated over their years of longevity, just like anyone else. I know one of these individuals has worked there for at least 35 years. I'm sure the salaries are commensurate with the years of experience. What are the salaries of other superintendents and assistants in surrounding districts like Brick, Jackson, Central Regional, etc.?
JD
11:44 am on Friday, July 20, 2012
Longevity should have nothing to do with salary for admin...
there should be a salary range for the position...
An assistant super for TR should be in the $150-175k range... period... regardless of how many years you have in the district.
Same with teachers... no longetivity pay... someone with 20 years experience should be the same pay as someone with 30 years experience.
There are PE teachers making 45K... and some making 90k... smh..