The city’s state-operated school district awarded two insurance brokerage contracts worth $340,000 to a politically powerful South Jersey firm.
School board members approved the latest contract of $140,000 for property and casualty insurance to Marolton-based Conner Strong & Buckelew on Wednesday night.
Board members rejected a $200,000 health benefits contract in June, but state-appointed district superintendent Donnie Evans overrode their vote to award the contract.
Evans said the firm played a vital role in ensuring a smooth transition in the district’s switch of health benefits provider from Express Script to Benecard.
The company’s executive is South Jersey Democratic Party leader George Norcross and its chairman is longtime former Republic Party head in Ocean County Joseph Buckelew.
School board members approved the latest contract in a 6-2 vote. Board members Jonathan Hodges and Errol Kerr voted against the contract. Lilisa Mimms was not present during the vote.
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