A southern New Jersey school district has been fined $22,600 by the state for failing to seek bids for a job performed by the superintendent’s wife.
The Burlington County Times reported that state education officials determined the Northern Burlington Regional School District hired Alexis Sarruda to write its newsletter without soliciting at least two other competitive bids.
Since the state funds 42 percent of the district’s budget, it sought that percentage of the $53,495 that Sarruda has been paid since 2004 for preparing the newsletters, which are published three to four times a year. The state investigation found nothing wrong with her performance or annual rate of pay.
Business Administrator Richard Kaz said the district has taken full responsibility for the error and implemented a corrective action plan.
