After seven months on the job, the Middletown Board of Education has determined that Superintendent William George has succeeded in meeting his merit goals for the 2011-2012 school year, and should be awarded $13,079 in merit pay.

Although he received raves in his review by the board, George fell short of his full pro-rated potential payout of $16,176.

The Interim County Superintendent Joseph Passiment, Jr. reviewed the board's decision and authorized the bonus on July 20. The school board approved the payment at the August 21 meeting at High School North. 

In its calculations, the school board had to weigh George's achievements against pre-set quantitative and qualitative goals set out in George's employment contract, pro-rated for the seven months (58.33%) of the school year for which he was employed in Middletown. 

Here is their report on Superintendent Merit Pay 2011-2012, as documented in a July 24 report to Passiment and George, and signed by board President Joan Minnuies:

• The superintendent received the full amount possible in his goal Assembly of Successful Central Administrative Team. "We believe Dr. George has done an outstanding job in this area," wrote Minnuies in the report. He was awarded the full, pro-rated amount of $2,697.76 for his efforts.  

• For his goal of Development of a Thorough Staff Evaluation Process he was lauded for taking "the necessary steps to put the district in a position to launch a complete new evaluation system," said Minnuies. He received $2,697.76 for this goal. 

• The board also gave him the full amount possible for Expense Reductions, accepting a list of reductions submitted by George that outlined how $107,917 was saved. He was given $3,593.64. 

• For Revenue Generation, which is described as the generation of revenues from outside or innovative inside sources of $100,000 or more, the board awarded George 88% percent of the possible merit pay, or $3,191.64. "Although Dr. George did not ask for any payment on this element, and did not provide any evidence in this area, we find that the tuition monies realized from Fair Haven and Highlands [special education tuition], in the amount of $51,807, should be counted in this area," wrote Minnuies. The report notes that $51,807 is equal to 88% of the pro-rated goal in this area of $58,333. The board awarded George 88% of the full, pro-rated amount of $3,593.64 for a total of $3,191.64 in this area. 

• For his goal of Reduction in Special Education Costs, which is defined by saving the district $100,000 in special education out-of-district tuition primarily by making Middletown in-district programs the first choice by parents, the board did not find enough evidence to award the full amount, so they gave George 25% of his possible raise in this area, or $898.41.

On Dec. 1, George was hired to head Middletown's school district, the largest in Monmouth County, with a five-year contract which pays an annual salary of $187,000, and which offers him the potential to earn up to $27,000 annually in merit pay. 

This year school superintendent pay was capped by Gov. Chris Christie at at $177,500 for districts of up to 10,000 students. But because Middletown serves more than 10,400 students in 17 schools, and because there was too much turnover in the superintendent's office, the school board received special permission from the county superinentendent to exceed the governor's edict, Minnuies said.