Two of New Jersey’s smallest school districts have agreed to share a superintendent to help save money.
Berlin Borough and Gibbsboro each have one school in Camden County that enrolls students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
As of July 1, the two districts are sharing the same superintendent: Jack Marcellus.
Marcellus has been Gibbsboro’s superintendent since 2016. He will also lead the Berlin Borough school district under a five-year shared services agreement, officials in both districts said.
Marcellus is now one of 24 school superintendents in New Jersey in charge of more than one school district, according to Richard Bozza, executive director of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators.
However, the number of shared superintendents has been declining statewide. There were 37 superintendents overseeing more than one district in New Jersey in 2015, compared to 27 in 2020 and two dozen for the upcoming school year, Bozza said.
New Jersey has more than 600 school districts.
Officials in Berlin Borough and Gibbsboro said the dual superintendent arrangement makes financial sense.
“This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to fiscal responsibility and educational excellence. By sharing a superintendent, we anticipate significant cost savings allowing us to maintain our high standards of education for all students,” said Brandy Titus, president of the Berlin Borough school board.
Marcellus did not immediately respond to a request to comment.
He earned $161,055 last year as Gibbsboro’s superintendent, where he also served as the school principal, according to the state’s salary database.
He will receive a $200,000 salary during the 2025-26 academic year, his first as a dual superintendent, with 2% annual increases for the duration of his five-year contract.
Berlin Borough will pay $140,000, or 70% of his salary.
The arrangement will reduce Berlin Borough’s costs by $42,000 in the 2025-26 school year, district officials said.
Marcellus’ predecessor, Brenda Harring, is a retired educator who served as Berlin Borough’s interim superintendent for two years. She was paid $168,000 annually and the district picked up her full benefits costs.
The average salary for New Jersey school superintendents was $197,444 for the 2024-25 school year, according to an analysis of state data by NJ Advance Media.
Most school districts that share superintendents are small. Many districts are sharing superintendents amid calls for more New Jersey school districts to merge to help reduce costs for taxpayers.
Berlin Borough’s lone school — the Berlin Community School — has approximately 950 students. Gibbsboro’s sole school — Gibbsboro Public School — has 290 students.
Gibbsboro School Board President Joyce Miller said the dual superintendent agreement with Berlin “demonstrates a proactive approach to navigating financial challenges while safeguarding the quality of education our communities expect.”
“We are confident that this partnership will be mutually beneficial and allow both districts to thrive under his leadership,” Miller said.
Of the 24 superintendents in charge of multiple districts in New Jersey, only one oversees three districts. Shannon Whalen is the superintendent of National Park, Westville and the Gateway Regional High School districts in Gloucester County.
A 2023 referendum in Monmouth County ended another arrangement in which one superintendent was leading three districts. The vote merged Highlands and Atlantic Highlands into the Henry Hudson Regional district.
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