Jersey Journal Editorial
The Hudson County Schools of Technology board has done county taxpayers a disservice by putting the 79-year-old superintendent of schools on a fully paid sabbatical in preparation for his retirement.
As Jersey Journal reporter Terrence T. McDonald wrote last week, Superintendent Frank Gargiulo is receiving his full $279,494 salary even though the day-to-day running of the school district has passed to acting Superintendent Amy Lin-Rodriguez, whose salary is $201,600.
Gargiulo “has kept in communication’’ with the district during “this transition period,’’ a spokeswoman said, which is hardly worth $5,374.88 a week.
The district, by the way, consists of 2,600 students at two high schools, a middle school and several adult education programs.
Thirteen years ago, the State Commission of Investigation found that pre-retirement sabbaticals create a further burden on the already strapped state pension system by extending employees’ lengths of service.
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As with so many games officials play to boost retirement payouts and pensions, it’s a legal but ethically dubious move. And it’s one we’re told the HCST board commonly employs.
There’s nothing to be done now to reverse the pricey present county taxpayers have been forced to give Gargiulo, but the HCST board must make this the last parting gift it gives on taxpayers’ behalf. As is the case in most offices, a card and a cake, maybe a luncheon and a gold watch, should suffice.
Beyond that, it bears noting that the HCST board isn’t the only one willing to throw tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars at someone headed out the door, especially when it comes to keeping well-connected political friends happy.
If Gov. Murphy and state Senate President Sweeney are serious about containing the rising cost of government, this is a place to start. The state budget that starts in July should be accompanied by legislation that closes the door to this abuse of taxpayers.
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