I-Team

BOSTON (WBZ) ― Do you know how much money the superintendent of schools earns in your town?

The I-Team has been investigating and found in some communities the answer is hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Chief Correspondent Joe Shortsleeve says the state is now is quietly working to close a loop hole which results in huge pay days for a select few.

Schools across the State are facing tight budgets this year. But not everyone is hurting.

Just ask James Marini, the Superintendent of schools in Newton. He is also technically retired.

Over the past three years he made almost $1 million working for the public schools. And it is all perfectly legal.

Chief Correspondent Joe Shortsleeve sat down with Marini in his Newton office. "Financially it has worked very well for you..."

Marini responded, "Yes financially it has worked very well."

What is going on here? Most retired public employees, if they return to work in the public sector have income limitations, which means their pension and their new salary can not exceed a certain amount.

But the I-Team has found there is it's a little known perk in state law just for retired teachers and superintendents. If they are called back to work because the state determines there is a "critical shortage," they can collect both their pension and a full salary and that is when the money can really add up.

George Frost is the superintendent in Ayer. He is also technically retired but he was asked to stay on under the state's critical shortage waiver system. His pension is $96,000 a year. His salary is $130,000. So this year he will make $226,000.

Shortsleeve sat down with Frost. Frost says, "I think when the legislature created the law they saw the value in it. So I don't think I am gong to question the logic."

Neither will Anthony Bent -- also technically retired -- and working as the superintendent for Topsfield, Middleton and Boxford. His combined earnings will be more than $250,000 this year.

Back in Newton, regarding Superintendent James Marini, Shortsleeve asked folks on the street how much they think he makes.

One man said, "$150,000?"

Shortsleeve: More….keep going.

Newton Resident: $200,000?

Shortsleeve: Keep going.

Newton Resident: What?

Newton Resident: I don't want to keep going that is too much money!

Marini's annual pension is $115,000 and his salary is $215,000. He doesn't apologize for collecting more than $330,000 this year. "You are a retiree, you get your pension and then you take on a job...you ought to be able to paid for the job you are doing."

Mitchell Chester, Commissioner of Education, thinks retired educators should have income limitations, yet he is also the one who approves those special waivers.

Shortsleeve asked "When you hear the Newton Superintendent is making more than $330,000, what you think?"

Chester responded "Well that is problem....it is a problem for public confidence in the system."

Shortsleeve stated, "If I am a retired school superintendent I am looking at this and saying, 'I want a piece of that!'"

Chester added, "Keep in mind we use this judiciously."

Maybe not judiciously enough. In total, the state has approved 20 "critical shortage" waivers to retired superintendents over the past three years.

Now the I-Team obtained a document which shows that a special commission currently reviewing state pensions determined this loophole in the current system creates "inequities."

But these educators say they are worth every dime.

"So if you had to live with income limitations…the Newton School system would not have James Marini right now?" Shortsleeve stated.

Marini's response: "That is probably true."

And that is the issue here. These individuals are all highly respected and in most cases could simply offer their talents elsewhere.

One added note, Norwood's Superintendent of Schools, John Moretti, abruptly resigned last week. Retired and working under a critical shortage waiver he was on track to make more than $262,000 this year.

Now most states have income limitations for retired public employees who return to job in the public sector. But if one of Massachusetts' retired Superintendents went to work in Rhode Island or New Hampshire, there would be no income rules.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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