South Jersey school board again rejects $27K merit pay for its embattled superintendent
This was the third time since August that the nine-member board has not approved merit pay for Eric Hibbs, who faced a suspension last year but was reinstated by a judge's order.
Embattled Washington Township school Superintendent Eric Hibbs has lost another battle with the South Jersey school system to get $27,000 in merit pay.
A motion to award Hibbs the bonus pay for performance failed by a 4-4 vote with one abstention at a contentious meeting Tuesday night. Five favorable votes are needed for adoption.
This was the third time since August that the nine-member board has not approved the merit pay, likely setting up another legal showdown between Hibbs and the board. He has a pending whistleblower lawsuit against several board members.
Hibbs has said he had met four of the five goals approved by the board and listed with his contract for the 2024-25 school year. He earned $220,375 during the 2023-24 school year.
The board voted on the request, with little public discussion. Hibbs did not comment at the meeting. He did not respond to a message seeking comment Wednesday.
In order to vote, the board had to invoke a rarely used “doctrine of necessity” because it otherwise would not have a quorum. Six of nine members have a conflict of interest with Hibbs, whom they suspended last year until he was reinstated by a judge. The board remains roiled by infighting over its superintendent.
Here’s what’s to know about the situation:
Why is Hibbs seeking merit pay?
Hibbs initially requested the merit pay last August, five months after he was suspended by the board with pay. He was reinstated in July after a judge found that the board had violated the Open Public Meetings Act when it suspended him.
According to his contract, if he meets goals set by the board, Hibbs is entitled to an annual merit bonus of up to 14.99% of his salary. Hibbs is among the highest paid school chiefs in South Jersey.
Interim Executive Gloucester County Superintendent Robert Bumpus approved the merit pay, as required by state law. The board must also give its approval to disburse the funds.
Tuesday’s motion also would have allowed Hibbs to carry over up to 20 unused vacation days in addition to receiving a $27,000 bonus.
Hibbs has been superintendent in the Washington Township district since 2023. His contract runs through 2027.
What were the merit goals?
Hibbs’ goals, approved by a previous board, include completing Google training presentations, taking online professional development courses, and beefing up security processes.
He received $25,000 in merit pay for similar goals for the 2023-24 school year, according to district records obtained by The Inquirer under the Open Public Records Act.
The merit pay has been an ongoing issue between Hibbs and the board and has escalated since last year. The dispute has raised questions about his fate when his contract expires. The board must notify Hibbs by December if his contract will not be renewed, otherwise the contract automatically renews for four years.
Why was the doctrine of necessity necessary?
Six board members were deemed ineligible to discuss Hibbs’ employment because of conflicts, board solicitor Nicholas J. Repici said. They either have family members who work for the district or were are named defendants in Hibbs’ lawsuit against the district, he said.
The doctrine of necessity allowed the conflicted board members to participate in the vote. But they were barred from any deliberations in executive session or public discussions.
Board vice president Terri Schechter chaired a special committee of the board members without conflicts that discussed the Hibbs matter. She brought forward the motion to approve the merit pay.
“Any discussion?” Schechter asked.
“We’re not allowed,” board member Julie Kozempel said. She cast the sole abstention.
A petition launched by a parent called for the board to invoke the doctrine and vote on Hibbs’ contract renewal. It asked those who “agree that the district needs a clean break and less expensive contract for its superintendent” to consider signing the petition, which a community member spoke about at the board meeting Tuesday night.
What is the dispute between Hibbs and the board?
A complaint filed by local union leaders against Hibbs with the New Jersey School Ethics Commission alleging that the superintendent provided preferential treatment to a relative of a board member by changing a failing grade in September 2023.
The board suspended Hibbs and hired a conflict lawyer to investigate the allegations. Hibbs was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing.
In his own ethics complaint, Hibbs accused Kozempel and board member Elayne Clancy of not following procedures when the board hired Insurance Consulting Services LLC in 2021, prior to his tenure as superintendent.
Hibbs filed a whistleblower lawsuit in May 2025, alleging his suspension was in retaliation for raising questions about the insurance contract. He alleged that the selection procedure was “procedurally flawed.”
His employment has remained a point of contention among school board members.
Here are other takeaways from Tuesday’s meeting
During public comment Tuesday, there were also emotional appeals to the board to reinstate three guidance counselor positions that were cut to help balance the budget for the 2026-27 school year.
Several school nurses and a student also expressed that the district has reduced the workday for several nursing assistants in cost-savings moves. They cited health and equity concerns.
Board members were surprised to learn that first-level French and German classes were being cut at the high school due to the budget. They were told that the classes would resume next year.
Hibbs said the district, which enrolls about 7,200 students, faced a $10 million deficit for the upcoming school year. More cuts are likely in future years without additional revenues, he said.
“This is the reality of where we are,” Hibbs said. “We have no other place to go.”
