Watch Out Prince Charlie

by: Thurman Hart

Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 02:31:12 PM EDT

Gov. Jon S. Corzine has used his broad power over the Camden Board of Education to strike down an incentive-laden contract for the school district superintendent, after previous reports raised questions about the amount of bonuses she's already received.

Why is Gov. Corzine picking on this district?

The school board approved a new three-year contract for Superintendent Annette D. Knox last week, that would have paid her a salary of $193,000 for the 2006-07 school year and more than $208,000 by 2008-09. She also could have received a bonus of up to 10 percent of her base salary for meeting five performance goals.

In previous contracts, Knox received bonuses that are being called into question. On Sunday, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Knox received nearly $18,000 in bonuses in 2004 and 2005 that the school board did not approve or know about.

The Courier-Post of Cherry Hill reported last month that some of the past performance goals — such as reducing the number of schools classified as "in need of improvement" were worded too vaguely to determine whether she met them — yet she was awarded the bonuses anyway.

Wow - that's not quite as much as Prince Charlie's salary!  And she didn't even get lost on her way to Oxford!  But, if Princess Ann is on the chopping block, Prince Charlie might not be far behind. 

At least, one can hope.