School administrators in New Jersey are seeing a notable increase in their salaries, and the Cherry Hill Township School District is no exception. According to recent data released by the state Department of Education, a total of 23 members of the Cherry Hill School District made upwards of $150,000 during the 2022-23 school year.
This surge in salaries is part of a larger trend across the state. Over 3,200 administrators in New Jersey earned $150,000 or more during the same period, marking an increase from the previous year’s figure of 2,556.
The district’s former Superintendent, Dr. Joseph Meloche, held the highest salary in the region last year, receiving $230,625. However, Cherry Hill is currently in search of a permanent replacement as Dr. Meloche departed for another opportunity on June 30.
Among the other top earners still working for the Cherry Hill Public Schools, Assistant Superintendent Lynn Shugars stands out with a salary of $210,311. Meanwhile, interim Superintendent Dr. Kwame Morton, who assumed the role in June last year, earned $191,341 while serving as the Assistant Superintendent of PreK-12 and curriculum and instruction.
Here is a list of the top earners in Cherry Hill’s school administration, along with their positions and most recent salaries:
- Joseph Meloche, Superintendent: $230,625
- Lynn Shugars, Assistant Superintendent and Business/Board Secretary: $210,311
- Farrah Mahanm, Assistant Superintendent of PreK-12 and Curriculum: $191,341
- Kwame Morton, Assistant Superintendent of PreK-12 and Instruction and Curriculum: $191,341
- LaCoyya H. Weathington, Assistant Superintendent of Compliance, Equity, and Pupil Services: $191,341
- James Riordon, Principal at Richard Stockton Elementary School: $185,000
- Dennis Perry, Principal at Cherry Hill High School East: $184,789
The increase in school-administrator salaries can be traced back to policy changes implemented in recent years. In 2011, then-Governor Chris Christie set a $175,000 cap for superintendents’ salaries, which was later raised to $191,584 in 2017. However, in 2019, Governor Phil Murphy signed a law eliminating the cap and introduced guidelines to limit or standardize bonuses and perks in school-executive contracts.
School-administrator pay has been a topic of debate both at the local school district level and in state policy. While some of the state’s highest-paid administrators received significant raises last year, the salary cap also presented challenges in retaining experienced superintendents. The pandemic has further complicated matters, putting intense scrutiny on school leaders for their handling of COVID-19 management and facing pressures from movements seeking curriculum changes.
As school-administrator salaries continue to rise, it remains a subject of interest for educators, parents, and policymakers alike, impacting the overall landscape of education in New Jersey.
