4 Former School Administrators Receive $100K Yearly Pensions

Four former administrators in the Washington Township and West Morris Regional school districts are currently collecting pensions of more than $100,000 annually, according to a New Jersey Watchdog report released this week.

While the report focused on the “$100K Club” and its 75-percent increase in members over the past three years, the list broke down each New Jersey municipality’s former employees and the pensions they are collecting.

As of Dec. 31, 2013, there were 1,731 retired public employees collecting more than $100,000 annually the report said. That number increased by 739 from 2010. There are more than 275,000 retired public workers in the state, the report said.

Among them locally was Gerald Vernotica, former superintendent of Washington Township schools. The retired schools chief receives $100,796 annually in his pension payments.

The other three were all from the regional school district, the report said. At the top of the list is former superintendent Anthony diBattista, who retired in Feb. 2012. He is receiving an annual payment of $117,695. diBattista began his career in the regional school district as a history teacher at West Morris Mendham and eventually became the schools’ top administrator for more than seven years. He currently teaches at Rutgers University.

Next on the list is former West Morris Central Principal Gil Moscatello, who is receiving an annual pension payment of $109,570. Like diBattista, Moscatello began his career in the district as a classroom teacher and served as an administrator for nearly two decades.

Last on the list from the regional district is Dr. Alyce Hunter, who last served as an assistant principal at Mendham High School before retiring in 2013. Prior to that, Hunter was the district’s director of curriculum. Her annual pension payout is $101,799.

The list showed no employees retired from the municipality of Washington Township currently receiving pensions of more than $100,000 annually. 

Topping the list in New Jersey are former Jersey City schools superintendent Charles Epps and Essex County College President A.Z. Yamba. Both are receiving annual pensions of $195,000, the report said. As a municipality, Paterson led the state with 34 retirees hauling in six-figure annual pensions.