We read the announcement, “Board names new headmaster at Princeton Charter” in the December 24 issue of the Princeton Packet with great interest. Having read so many similar announcements for local public schools we noticed one glaring omission. The story did not mention the compensation offered to the new headmaster.
According to the Trenton Times, “The charter school board is working on Patton’s final contract now.”
As West Windsor-Plainsboro taxpayers funding both the public and charter schools we find the double standard to which the two schools are held is inexplicable. A public school district won’t be allowed to appoint the head of schools (superintendent) before the contract is not only written but approved by the county superintendent.
Since the charter school budget is not approved by local taxpayers, the state should demand more, not less, transparency from the charter schools. It is especially true in this case since the previous head of school, Broderick Boxley, resigned unexpectedly after getting a 12 percent pay raise in 2009. The terms of separation were hidden from local taxpayers.
The issue is relevant to West Windsor and Plainsboro taxpayers as a group of parents are attempting to start another charter school for students in our district.
Given the difficult financial environment we face, as taxpayers we expect to know the economic justification for any new charter schools. In spite of their professed preference for charter schools, we hope Governor Christie and the new commissioner of education, Christopher Cerf, hold the charter schools at least to the same transparency standards as the local public schools.
Equally important to the taxpayers funding these schools is whether the headmaster of the Princeton Charter School and the proposed Chinese school are held to the same pay standards Governor Christie has approved for local public school superintendents. If the superintendent of a public school district with fewer than 3,500 students can be paid a maximum of $125,000, how much should a head of school for a 170-student charter school be paid?
We hope the department of education holds charter schools to the same pay and other standards that the public school districts have to meet.
Kalpana & Ravi Joshi
9 Stone Meadow Lane, Plainsboro
