JACKSON, NJ – Jackson Township officials are upset over New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy installing a state monitor to oversee the Jackson Township public school district. The state notified the district this week that Carole Knopp-Morris will be installed immediately as a state-appointed monitor. And Jackson residents are going to have to pay her salary.
State officials confirmed her appointment on January 22nd.
Among her duties outlined by the state are the redistricting and reorganization of the Jackson School District. A contract obtained from the state shows that the Murphy administration’s ‘to-do’ list for Knopp-Morris includes a redistricting of students.
She will also be responsible for rooting out and correcting ‘deficiencies’ in the district, overseeing all staff hiring, managing employee sick leave buyouts, and will have veto power over any actions made by the board. Additionally, she could also overrule the district’s superintendent at any time.
The initial order places Knopp-Morris, 85, as the monitor for one year. During that year, taxpayers of Jackson, not the Murphy administration would be responsible for paying the monitor as much as $300,000 annually including professional insurance. She will be among the highest-paid staff members of the Jackson School District.
She can sit on the board during public school board meetings and participate in private executive session meetings.
Jackson officials off the record on Monday said the decision caught them all off guard.
“This is nothing more than an attempt by Phil Murphy and his Democrat party to take over our school district,” the official who wished to remain anonymous said. “They cut our funding and have wreaked havoc on our district over the years. No Phil Murphy says the problem is our fault after he decimated funding year after year to our students and teachers.”