Barnegat Merry-Go-Round: Putting A Cap On Cheap Rhetoric Instead Of Salaries

Shortly after I read on today's Patch about the hiring of a new schools superintendent I came across this interesting item about the impact our Governor's attempts to squeeze supers so hard their eyeballs will pop out is having. 

It seems the old adage "we get what we pay for" may come true if increasing numbers of experienced and talented educators either take an early retirement or leave the state for greener pastures. There may be danger in treating supers like a gang of pickpockets that could result in throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Of course, I am operating on the assumption that superintendents do play an important role in educating children. Others may disagree and assert that superintendents are as useful as ticks on a dog. 

Enthusiasm and youthful vigor may be important qualities in hiring someone, but there is also something to be said on behalf of the experience and wisdom that comes with age. I wonder if our Governor would be as cavalier about dismissing the importance of academic credentials and experience if he needed a surgeon to operate on one of his children, or a lawyer to defend him against charges of official misconduct while in office. 

As to the new Barnegat schools superintendent, I wish her well in the job, and I hope she will prove to be every bit as successful as the School Board expects her to be.

However, assuming her performance lives up to expectations, is it realistic to expect her to stay longer than the previous superintendent if her reward is a new contract that pays her the same as the old contract? Would an athlete in the prime of their career accept a new contract that paid them the same as if they were a rookie? I hope I'm wrong but I have a feeling that if our Governor has his way the new super's tenure with us won't be any longer than the previous super.