Senate OK’s ‘Super’ Superintendents

The state Senate on Monday passed a version of the “super” executive county superintendent bill that differs significantly from the legislation approved by the Assembly in December.

A-4 now goes back to the Assembly for concurrence on the Senate changes. The next Assembly session is set for Feb. 26. However, a voting session could be scheduled before then.

School Quality at Stake “A-4 will do nothing to reform property taxes; it will hurt our children’s education,” said Kevin E. Ciak, NJSBA president. “That’s the simple message board members must convey to our Assembly representatives.

“Education Week’s 2007 Quality Counts report ranks New Jersey’s public schools second in the nation in academic quality,” Ciak noted. “We achieved success through a system of local district school governance. In comparison, Maryland – with county-based school systems – places 25th in terms of academic achievement.”

Non-Partisan Elections Saved Thanks to previous efforts by local school boards, the newest version of A-4 would not move the election of local school board members to the partisan General Election in November. It would, however, create 21 “super” executive county superintendents with broad powers over local school district budgeting and staffing.

The executive county superintendents would be political appointees, nominated by the governor with the advice and consent of the state Senate.

By concentrating financial decisions at the county level, A-4 could eliminate savings that school districts have already achieved through negotiations and shared services, according to NJSBA.