Rocked by allegations of mismanagement, the Camden, N.J., school district has chosen retired educator Leonard Fitts to run the troubled district until a permanent superintendent is chosen.
Superintendent Annette D. Knox agreed last month to have her contract bought out after 5½ years in charge of the 17,000-student district. Ms. Knox has said that she earned more than $17,000 in bonuses, and that the school board knew about them. But board members contend they were unaware of the payments.
The state is also probing suspiciously high test scores at two elementary schools and allegations that an assistant superintendent pressured a high school principal to falsify results on a state math test. (“Cheating Charges Roil N.J. District,” April 5, 2006.)
The New Jersey governor’s office also announced last month that it has directed the state department of education to send a monitor to Camden to supervise administration of its budget and assist in hiring decisions.
