Got You In My Seitz

Dr. LeRoy Seitz, The Parsippany-Troy Hills Schools Superintendent who Governor Christie singled out last week as “the new poster boy for all that’s wrong with a public school system that is being dictated by greed” is suddenly in the middle of a ‘point-counterpoint’ reminiscent of the Schundler fiasco.

On November 9, the school board voted on a five-year contract that would give Seitz more than Governor Christie’s proposed salary cap in each of those next five years. The cap ( which tops out Superintendent salaries at $175,000 per year ) was first proposed last July, but would not take effect until February at the earliest. Three public hearings are needed first.

The County Superindent, Kathleeen Serafino, who needs to sign off on the Seitz contract claims she never did so. calls to her office were referred to the State DOE which says there is no clear approval of that contract in writing. That appears to be true. No final go-ahead letter was ever received by the school board.

But people familiar with the situation say  something doesn’t quite add up here. They insist that a “good faith negotiation” took place over several weeks and not once did Serafino or her Chief Negotiator Ralph Goodwin ever object to a salary that exceeded the proposed cap. In fact, the Superintendent ( who serves as the Christie Admin’s rep in the Seitz contract negotiation ) never even brought up the salary until a tersely worded letter popped up on DOE’s website yesterday saying the contract needs to be rescinded.

Apparently there is a trail of email correspondence leading up to the vote. Now, I have not seen these emails, but someone familiar with them read me their contents. On October 27 for example, two weeks before the board vote, Seitz asked if there would be a problem with his contract being approved on November 9th. Serafino responded “thanks, and good luck.”

On the 29th, an email from Goodwin said Serafino would approve the contract in writing when she returned from vacation which was after the vote. But how could she not have known that the vote was scheduled for November 9th? From what people involved in the negotiations say, the official approval was merely a formality. Another email from Goodwin on November 3 also did not raise any concern about the terms of the salary.

Finally, at least one source claims there was a face-to-face meeting on October 26th between Seitz, Serafino and others where Serafino said she could not sign off on a flat rate salary of $225,000 per year for five years, but she could approve 2% yearly increases. Seitz is currently making $212,000.

So, if there was a problem, there appears to be evidence that no one involved in the negotiations said a word about it until after the Governor made his comments.

As far as I know, people may be feeding me falsehoods. I suppose we can wait and see what those emails say when they are publicly released. ( And they will eventually be made public )

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The Blind Side

The criticism of Governor Christie has often been that he has tendency shoot first and ask questions later. Or as one State House veteran put it, ‘The Governor likes to begin a conversation by tossing a hand grenade into the room.’

There is something to be said for this as a negotiating tactic, but there are also potential pratfalls. Critics say the situation with LeRoy Seitz appears to be one of those.

On two consecutive days the Governor went after Seitz personally for his recent re-up on his Schools Superintendent contract in Parsippany-Troy Hills. The guy already makes more than 210, and by the last year of his five year new deal he’ll be making more than $230,000. That is indeed a lot of money.  But there are plenty of government positions that pull in big $’s. Anyway, not the point.

Here is what is interesting…school officials say they never received a single phone call from anyone connected to the Governor telling them to dial it back. In other words, there was no back channel attempt to prevent the contract from being approved. Instead, after a months long negotiation process the Governor decided to single Seitz out in a public forum on the day of the vote.

Moreover, we were recently told that Kathleen Serafino, the County Superintendent signed off on the contract. She is answerable to the Administration. The County Supes are representatives of the Department of Education which is located in the Executive Branch of Government.

Christie first announced in July that there would be caps on these salaries. The policy is winding it’s way through and could be implemented by February ( Legislature not needed on this one, although some were surprised at the way the Governor described the necessary public hearings to get this done…as if public hearings are for sissies ).

Finally, there is the Mendham connection. The Mendham Township School Board re-upped Superintendent Kristopher Harrison’s contract back in September. It also exceeds the cap. Then the Mendham School Board President tells the Daily Record that they approved it knowing that a cap was imminent ( !!! ). Wow. Mendham is of course Christie’s home town, and officials there were spared a public lashing.

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Race To The Bottom

When the story devolves into who said what to whom, and who said it first and when, that’s usually when I stop paying attention. I can feel the glazed-over expressions of boredom washing over the faces of thousands of New Jerseyans as they try to discern what happened with the missed opportunity to win Federal Race To The Top funding.

But since this is the first high-profile cabinet firing of the Christie Administration, and since this is not simply insider baseball because $400 million in funding that could have offset deep cuts was lost…it is probably worth examining closely.

We now know that Governor Christie defended Bret Schundler last week in a  Wednesday press conference saying essentially that Schundler gave the missing data to Federal DOE officials during the oral exam portion of the Race To The Top application.

However, the Obama Admin. produced a video showing that Schundler failed to provide the data when asked. Christie subsequently fired him. Here is an email exchange between Bret Schundler and Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications Maria Comella. Note, this took place Tuesday night before the Wednesday presser. Schundler seems to tell her that he failed to clarify the data during the oral.

From: Schundler, Bret
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 5:01 PM
To: Schundler, Bret; Maria Comella; Guenther, Alan; Michael Drewniak; Kevin
Roberts
Cc: Smarick, Andrew; Blaustein, Michael; Hunter Pendarvis
Subject: RE: NJEA counterpoint

We did not, as the reviewers note, provide Fiscal Year 2008 budget data.

We supplied data relating to Fiscal Years 2009 and 2010, and the Governor’s
proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2011 – cumulatively representing the most
up-to-date financial information on our education spending – but we did not
provide budget information relating to Fiscal Year 2008.

We did not realize the error in advance, and the competition rules did not
permit fixing of the error post-facto.

Bret

From: Maria Comella
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 5:12 PM
To: Schundler, Bret; Guenther, Alan; Michael Drewniak; Kevin Roberts
Cc: Smarick, Andrew; Blaustein, Michael; Hunter Pendarvis
Subject: RE: NJEA counterpoint

When did we realize the error? Did we not notify DOE of the error before we
did our in person presentation?

From: Schundler, Bret
Sent: Tue 8/24/2010 5:14 PM
To: Maria Comella; Guenther, Alan; Michael Drewniak; Kevin Roberts
Cc: Smarick, Andrew; Blaustein, Michael; Hunter Pendarvis
Subject: RE: NJEA counterpoint

We didn’t let the DOE know we had made the error because we didn’t know we
had made it – not until a panelist asked us about the Fiscal Year 2008
budget data.

When we were asked us about it, we checked our appendices.  All we could do
was confirm that we had erred — the 2008 data was not included.

We had instead given them FY 2010 vs FY 2009 data, when what they sought was
FY 2009 vs FY 2008 data.

programming note: I put the email text in bold so we can distinguish what was written by the Administration from what is being written by me. Duh.

So, it all comes down to what was said Wednesday morning the 25th when Christie spoke to Schundler by phone. Christie told reporters today that Schundler told him the exact opposite of what is in those emails. Schundler says he told the Governor not to go out and say he provided the data during the oral since that “information was false.”

Someone is not telling the truth here. Or maybe there was some misunderstanding. It is after all a lot of data – dates and numbers. But neither guy ( Schundler nor Christie ) seems willing to draft a joint statement giving them both some wiggle room here. It’s become a he-said, he-said.

It seems weird that Schundler would back away from what he said in the Tuesday emails. Maybe Comella didn’t convey the info to Christie? Certainly possible, but I have no knowledge of that.

But here is the bottom line: Schundler says changing the info during the oral doesn’t get the lost points back. That is new. Did someone tell the Governor that before his Wednesday presser?

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The Property Tax Conundrum

We hear an awful lot about why people are leaving New Jersey – taxes too high, cost of living is unaffordable, not enough private sector work. Lost in those valid arguments is a solid exploration of why people move here. That is the other side of the coin and it is an equally important discussion to be having.

People like their individual towns. They move here and stay here because they like that quaint hometown feeling. They like having their own town hall. They like their own police force, and they like that the schools are good. People enjoy the Penny-Lane romanticization of riding down main street with a fireman washing his truck, waving and calling your son by name. It’s not a fantasy. For some it is real life. But guess what? Those things cost money. The town hall requires maintenance and upkeep, the Police Chief probably makes $125,000 and those schools are “good” because they have nice grassy fields, smart committed teachers and a lunchroom that won’t make you gag.

So, when you start cutting money from those things people get nervous. They are not nervous yet, because right now there is this anti-property tax fever that has led to what some have argued is an arbitrary and perhaps hasty 2% cap.

The counter argument to supporting a cap above all other considerations is this: people might be even more inclined to leave the state if all those things that made it so appealing in their chosen town start to falter. Suddenly, that once cute town hall needs a coat of paint and looks shabby and rundown since the local Public Works Department laid off half it’s staff. That Police Chief is gone, along with a handful of those nice cops who you once played football with in High School. And finally, the school no longer holds a competitive advantage because young, qualified teachers don’t wanna relocate there…the pay is too low.

Another point to consider – we are living in a unique period of history. The economy really is as bad as it has been in several generations. But it will turn around. These things are cyclical. And if there is one thing we have learned about a crisis it’s that it doesn’t always lend itself to rational policy making. Particularly when the decisions that will greatly impact communities are made under duress over a holiday weekend.

I mean, look what happened with TARP. In 2008, the economy was in a full meltdown. Congress rushed in to pass the nearly $700 billion bank bailout. They attached no requirement that the banks then use that money to lend. And they put no stipulations on how it should be spent. I am not an economist so I don’t know whether that bailout was even necessary. My thought is that you let the guys who gambled with other people’s money go down. Nothing would have prevented a repeat performance more than letting the Capitanes of Industry go down with their respective ships. But regardless of what the right response was or should have been, it’s probably safe to say the legislation could have been a little less “we trust you’ll do the right thing” and a little more “this will guarantee you do the right thing.”

Finally, there is the Reform New Jersey Now element. This organization has been running ads urging action on the cap. Democrats have called on the Governor to disclose the donor list. Mike DuHaime, the Governor’s campaign strategist has said they will do so by the end of the year. The group’s tax status is such that they do not have to reveal that donor list. However, is it strange that this unknown group of people are driving the policy agenda in New Jersey? Not only driving it, but making sure lawmakers agree to a cap deal over July 4th weekend, and that it gets voted on within a week. Does that make good policy? Maybe. We’ll see.

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On Language…

In the early 1990’s while I was attending college there was this mass hysteria over political correctness. ( Ah, don’t we long for those halcyon days when the biggest problem facing this country was how to refer to people’s differences without offending them?!? That sounds very much like a quaint pre-9/11, pre-Katrina, pre-financial meltdown and pre-Gulf disaster world to have lived in, doesn’t it? )

You had people on the right denouncing the left for acting like the language police. And you had people on the left arguing that insensitivity leads to intolerance ( I know, I know…I just rolled my eyes when I read what I just wrote in that last sentence too ).

Political correctness quickly ran amok. But at the same time, the point was fairly made that people need to watch what they say.

The Senate has now passed, and an Assembly panel has now cleared, a Sweeney bill that would cut out demeaning terms  for people with disabilities from state law. That includes “retarded,” “mental retardation,” “feeble minded” and even “idiot.”

I think it is fair to say that these terms have no basis in the law of this state. They are indeed offensive and demeaning. The first way to dehumanize someone is to cut them down with degrading language. Moreover, words like “retarded” are simply not acceptable anymore. The same way terms like “homosexual,” “midget” and “oriental” are antiquated to the point of being offensive when used in modern parlance ( although I did recently have to quietly remind an elderly relative that one of those aforementioned terms from that second grouping is indeed unacceptable after she decided to scream it out loud in the middle of a crowded restaurant ).

It’s hard to teach people new habits. You just gotta keep reinforcing the point. It reminds me of my father’s famous refrain in reference to me and my brother while growing up which was: “It is never an inappropriate time. To remind my children. To lower their voices.”

If you gotta keep reminding people to say something the right way or act appropriately, then do it. The English language is evolving. And Sometimes government does need to set an example.

And yes, the title of this post is an homage to William Safire with whom I may have had the shortest conversation in modern history. I dialed him up at work years ago to ask if he would speak at our graduation, and he simply said “no.” End of conversation.

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May 12 Show

It’s that time of the year again. The New Jersey Press Association presents the Legislative Correspondent’s Club annual show.

Basically, the state’s  ( now dwindling ) press corps performs a series of skits and songs that mock the political and media elite of the Garden State. It is often quite funny replete with costumes, wigs and other flamboyant accessories that would make even Elton John blush.

As for my role…well, I am El Presidente this year. That means I don’t actually have to sing ( which is not my strong suit ). I have to deliver the introductory speech which is supposed to be funny and slightly mean spirited. Well, I don’t know how funny it shall be, although I’m working on it. It will most certainly be biting, and of course familiar.

Then of course, after the show is over, people get to stand around and hang out in a cocktail party-type atmosphere which is even more fun. And the whole evening is off the record. So, if you are remotely interested, I urge you to purchase tickets. Proceeds go to charity.

Contact Peg Stephan 609-406-0600 ext. 14. or pastephan@njpa.org

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Christie Promotes Higher Ed

He’s certainly not the first one to say it: NJ loses too many college-bound students to out of state schools each year.

But there Christie was at the College of New Jersey, with former Governor Tom Kean to hit  the point home.

The two Republicans met with a group of students, even taking their questions. According to Christie, 29,000 students leave NJ for schools out of state each year. he claims Governor Corzine has neglected higher Ed not only by reducing state subsidies ( which leads to higher tuition ), but by failing to meet with the presidents of the state’s colleges and universities even once during his tenure as Governor.

Echoing the point, Kean ( who used to be president of Drew University ) says his problem with the Corzine Administration is that while they claim there isn’t enough money to go around due to the sagging economy, Corzine began cutting higher ed funding before the financial meltdown.

To finish the point, everyone agrees that there simply aren’t enough spaces at those NJ institutions to keep students here. There is only room to accomodate 30% percent of them.

And of course, the circular logic goes like this: If students leave the state for school, they may not come back. That leads to a lack of innovation and by extension a lack of new business here which hurts the state’s economy.

tough problem, indeed.

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Hey, It’s A Start

It was one of those surreal moments I had…finding myself rhetorically asking the question ‘so, what took so long???’

The Governor was in Haddonfield to sign legislation eliminating non-operating school districts. That’s another one of those State House-jargon phrases which basically means districts that have no schools. Apparently there are 26 of them throughout New Jersey. In some cases, those districts have only one student who they send to a nearby district which is equipped with an elementary, middle and in some cases even a high school.

But the non-operating district may still have a school board, may still have a part-time Business Ddministrator and more than likely someone there needs to file annual reports. In other words: a layer of bureacracy.

Well, with a  sweep of his pen the Governor eliminated those districts and presumably the overhead that goes along with them. 13 will be dissolved this year and another 13 next fiscal year. So good riddance.

New Jersey has 566 municipalities and 616 school districts. How is that possible you ask??? Good question. I have no answer for you. And New Jerseyans wonder why their property taxes are high. Well, layers of local government, particulary school administration, make costs go up and stay up.

But here is the flip side…so that I can also show myself to be the unbiased reporter that I am. Every time New Jersey tried to get rid of some of these districts ( going back to 1969 ) there was pushback. Yes, part of that is due to people trying to preserve their jobs but there is more to it than that. And here is the crux of the complicated dichotomy between home rule, and protecting state taxpayers.

New Jersey has good schools. Great schools, actually. Test scores and graduation rates reflect that, particularly in the suburbs. And people move here for a nice environment to raise their kids. Not only are good schools key to that lure, but people also like their nice towns with their own police forces and small city halls. You don’t wanna mess with that too much. Bceause once you take away what is appealing about moving the fam out to the garden State suburbs…people could stop doing it. Then there wouldn’t be any tax dollars to argue about.

Just something to think about, although eliminating districts with no schools is probably tough to argue with.

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Abbott Decision Favors Corzine Plan

Not a huge surprise here, but let’s not play down the significance of this ruling. It’s also a major victory for the Corzine Administration.

Basically the Supreme Court of New Jersey upheld the Governor’s new school funding formula. This was passed last year and known as the School Funding Reform Act or SFRA.

For years, politicians particularly those on the Republican side of the aisle have criticized the landmark Abbott v. Burke decision which dates back to the 1970’s. It found that NJ must provide an equal education to it’s neediest students in the 31 districts. That has meant disproportional funding for those districts.

The criticism was that by trying to meet that constitutional requirement, other districts were getting shortchanged. There is only so much education dough to go around, ya see.

Anyway, the Corzine Administration, in a very bold move, effectually said, “yes, that’s kinda true.” The Court decisions have tied the hands of policy makers. Thus, they crafted a new funding formula that also provides adequate funding for poor districts not considered part of that original 31. Much more equitable and fair, the Gov and his AG who argued the case say.

But here is why this is so important politically. The Governor, known as a liberal, basically took on the left wing of the party and completely took away the issue from any Republican he might face in the fall. Now when an opponent from the right says the Abbott decision is killing the state’s budget, Corzine’s response is “you’re right, that is why I changed it.”

And they did so with some very clever legal work which enabled the state to preserve the precedent set by the court, while allowing themselves more room to actually set education policy.

Kinda brilliant, actually. Even Republicans were reduced to issuing press releases along the lines of “this is only a first step.”

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