JACKSON, NJ – Jackson Board of Education President Tina Kas is sounding the alarm over what she described as an excessive and unjust financial burden placed on the district by the state—specifically, the mandated hiring of high-cost state monitors that she says provide limited value for skyrocketing cost.
At a recent Board of Education meeting, Mrs. Kas detailed the payments made to two state-appointed monitors: Carol Morris, who received $109,004 between February 2024 and May 2025, and a second monitor who was paid $35,536.25 for just two months of work from June to August 7, 2025.
“He made $35,000 in two months and worked four days a week,” said Mrs. Kas, pointing out that a first-year teacher earns approximately $59,000 for an entire year. “This is mandated by the state,” she said, adding that the district was also forced to cover part of the monitor’s cell phone and travel expenses to and from Trenton.
Mrs. Kas emphasized that state monitors are paid at a higher hourly rate than the district superintendent, calling the practice a “gross misconduct by the state.” She stated that the board is now reviewing options to recoup at least half of the $35,000 payout, which she described as “excessively charged” and unjustified.
“These figures need to be on public record,” she said, while noting that the district has been audited repeatedly by two external auditors and state monitors. “You don’t need four days a week to pour over the same reports,” she added.
Jackson Councilman Giusseppe Palmeri also weighed in following the meeting, backing Mrs. Kas and calling the situation “unacceptable and a disgrace.”
Mrs. Kas highlighted that we have been mandated by the state to have a state monitor. There’s not one sitting there tonight because we are getting a new one.
Carol Morris was paid $109,004 from February 2024 to May 2025.
The second monitor that we just had, who is no longer with us, was paid $35,536.25 from June 2025 to August 7, 2025. Mrs. Kas highlighted that for a couple of reasons.
A Step 1 teacher makes roughly $59,000 a year. He [the monitor] made $35,000 in two months, and this is mandated by the state. He worked four days a week and worked double the hours of our previous state monitor.
In addition, the district had to pay part of his cell phone bill and his travel expenses to and from Trenton.
Mrs. Kas highlighted that the state monitors make more per hour than our Superintendent. She finds that to be a gross misconduct by the state.
As of tonight, the Board is actively discussing recouping at least half of what was paid to the last state monitor because it was an absurd amount. It was excessively charged, and there is no reason that we should have to foot that bill.
She understands the district has a loan from the state and that someone needs to oversee and make sure we’re not overspending, embezzling, or doing anything we’re not supposed to be doing. But she doesn’t think you need four days a week to do that.
“You can’t pour over the same reports that much,” she said. “We have a meeting once a month, and we get the bill list. Someone just needs to make sure and verify the things we’re doing — which has, time and time again, been proven.”
She added that the district has been audited many times, had two outside auditors in addition to the state monitor.
She concluded by saying that she wanted these figures on public record.
“The Jackson School District does not have a spending problem — it has a revenue problem created by Governor Murphy and his disastrous S2 funding formula,” said Palmeri. “If the State mandates it, the State should pay for it — plain and simple.”
Palmeri warned against continued leadership aligned with the Murphy administration and voiced support for gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli, calling for “a fair formula” to ensure districts like Jackson are not shortchanged.
Palmeri also fears the problems facing Jackson will not improve if Democrat Mikie Sherrill wins the race for governor in November.
“We have to vote for Jack Ciattarelli,” Palmeri said. “We can’t afford four more years of Phil Murphy style school cuts in Jackson.”
