Ignore Star-Ledger Editorial Plea: “Crunch Time for America”

In an editorial which appeared in today’s The Star Ledger  (S/L) under the headline quoted above, the writer is cautioning all those who are eligible to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) that they had better do it before the March 31^st deadline, or face “fines” which “are higher than many people think.”

Take a deep breath and relax.  That editorial is wrong.

Schilder to Assume School Post in Frenchtown, NJ

Dr. Schilder, 4th person from the right, on July 23, 2013.

Dr. J. Michael Schilder who retired August 1, 2013, as Superintendent for the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District will take on a new position as Interim Superintendent for the Frenchtown School District on a per diem pay basis, according to a report which appeared yesterday in the Hunterdon Democrat.  His daily rate of pay has not yet been disclosed, but is reported to be below cap.

School Board Seeks Waiver from Administrative Cost Limit

Tuesday evening, the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education (BR-BOE) will discuss and vote upon a resolution which, if passed, will petition the Somerset County Executive Superintendent to grant the board a waiver that will permit the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District “to exceed its Administrative Cost limit.”

The Board’s petition claims that the school district “requires additional certificated administrators to effectively and efficiently meet the requirements of TEACHNJ and to provide administrative coverage in school in the absence of the principal.”

The incremental personnel cost of this waiver is not specified in the resolution.  However, a February 25^th, 2014 Budget Update identifies the potential need for an additional “8 administrators” at a “minimum of $960,000 in salary and benefits,” without mention of whether or not this item is related to the waiver request.