Administrators’ Pay Packages Under Scrutiny in N.J.

Lawmakers in New Jersey are calling for major reforms in compensation practices for public school administrators in the wake of a scathing report that concludes that millions in taxpayer dollars were spent on lucrative contracts, hidden perks, and pension padding for dozens of superintendents and their top deputies.

The State Commission of Investigation, New Jersey’s public-watchdog agency, found that a handful of top school administrators were paid as much as 65 percent more than what was publicly reported. In addition, some cashed in tens of thousands of dollars in unused sick and vacation leave, and others were able to negotiate excessive boosts to their pension benefits before retiring, it found.

And, in some cases, administrators may not have reported their full compensation to state and federal tax authorities, the commission also concluded in its 71-page...