Cut back on administrative salaries, costs

School finances rely on property taxes, and those taxes have risen steadily despite debate over how to curb costs.

[Graham A Kerby]

Here are the sources I used for the figures quoted in this article.
Note these figures date back to 2005 for two reasons. Firstly, there is a time lag between when school districts send their statistics to the NYS Education Department and when the Department posts them on its website. Secondly, the figures are from a study I did last May/June.
Since then some of the rankings will have changed as new contracts are negotiated and high paying employees retire to be replaced by lower paying ones. However, I do not think the basic point I am making will have changed: school employees are grossly overpaid compared to their counterparts in other educational institutions, government agencies, non-profits and private industry.
I am about to create a website named www.drgak.com on which I will be posting my extensive research, writing and databases on public education on Long Island. I hope to have it up today/tomorrow, but can't promise.
The first half of my e-mail address is gkerby
The second half is @suffolk.lib.ny.us
I write it like this to avoid programs that scan the internet to collect e-mail address for spamming purposes.
Suffolk County superintendent and administrator salaries are for 2004-05 and are taken from the New York State Education Department (NYSED) website. The information can be found at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/mgtserv/cdlead.htm
Suffolk County Community College (SCCC) salaries are for 2005-06 and were provided to me by SCCC in response to a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request.
SUNY Stony Brook salaries were taken from a Kansas University web page. The address is http://www.ku.edu/~oirp/profiles/current/6-20... . The page reports 2004-05 university academic salaries from an American Association of American Professors annual report entitled,“The Annual Report on the Economic Status of the Profession”.
The information on the salary of the SUNY Stony Brook President was obtained by reviewing university documents at the university. This information was provided to me in response to a FOIL request.
The Brookhaven Town salary information was provided to me by the Town in response to a FOIL request.
The Nassau and Suffolk teacher salary information was taken from a Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association report entitled “NSSBA Salary Workbook Study”. This document is available at http://www.lischooltax.com/Liferpg10.html . The report is for the school year 2004-05.
Regular per pupil expenditure is from “A Report to the Governor and the Legislature on the Educational Status of the State's Schools: Submitted October 2006” commonly known as the “Chapter 655 report”. It contains data for the 2004-05 school year and can be found at: http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/irts/655report/2006... . Note: this figure is far less than you will see quoted for your local school districts and school districts as a whole. This is because it excludes expenditure for special education (usually twice as much as regular student expenditure), transportation, debt service, district wide administration and other similar items. In other words this figure underestimates how much it costs our public schools to educate our children compared to our universities and colleges.
Custodial and general maintenance salaries are for the Three Village Central School District (TVCSD) for the school year 2004-05. They are taken from the contract the TVCSD has with its maintenance and operations staff.

[Matt Zisel]

Graham Kerby's suggestions for "curbing public school costs" are hardly "novel." In fact, I found it disturbing that Newsday would even print a glib opinion piece that attempts to discuss something as important as educational finance reform.
Kerby's assertion that teachers should not have a "stranglehold" on school administrative positions is sophomoric. A school administrator's job requires experience in the school system. How else can an administrator "administer" if he/she has no experience relevant to the dynamic work in education.
Finally, Kerby loses all credibility by suggesting that we outsource school psychological and social services. Clearly, this sends a message to our kids and our community that we are not vested in their personal development or their mental and physical health. There are many ways to save a buck, and Kerby broadstrokes a few ideas, but ultimately his ideas would undermine and obviate the public school mission.

[Tom Sullivan]

Graham Kerby is a blithering idiot. How would students get back and forth to SUNY Stony Brook to take their AP courses? Would they take them in the evening? How does that save money? Let's assume there are 20 students taking AP Calculus taught by a teacher making $100,000. Since that teacher teaches 4 other courses, the prorated salary would be $20,000 divided by 20 students is $1000 per student (I can do Math too!). The cost for an undergraduate course at Stony Brook is about $750. So the district would save $250. And I haven't even factored in the cost of transporting that student roundtrip to the university. And Kerby assumes that Stony Brook could handle the additional load of these students from all the districts in the area (Port Jefferson, Three Village, Smithtown, Comsewogue, Commack, Kings Park, etc.)

I repeat, Graham Kerby is a blithering idiot!!!!

[George Ryan]

Where in the world can someone like Kerby come up with such simplified ideas that he proposes?! Send students to SUNY for advanced classes!!?? Who would pay and how? How would transportation work for these students? Did he even think to see if Stony Brook would be able to handle the extra students for some of these classes? If there are 20 students per high school for a particular course, wouldn't there be the same need for 20 student classes at SUNY or would 40 be better or 60? I question Mr Kerby's academic credentials. Obviously, more thought and research is needed.

[Rob]

It seems obvious from the letter that Mr. Zisel is either a teacher or administrator in one of the school systems or related to one. It reminds me over and over how the teachers union says we need more money for education when most of that money goes not to education but to teachers salary, pension and health plans.

Certainly the high teachers salaries are a result of amateur school boards facing professional teachers unions. there are at least 30 applicants for every teching job on Long Island, certainly not a shortage of teachers.

Mr. Kerby should be commended and encoraged to keep up his fact finding mission! If Mr Kerby's suggestions are part of a "glib opinion piece", perhaps Mr. Zisel could give us his list of reccomendations for slashing this overwhelming expense.

[Anonymous]

Each week it seems, Graham Kerby chooses a new target in the schools. At least in Newsday, he didn't accuse administrators of his own district of being "cons." He knows it won't fly.

I'm not really sure what the solution is, but if Mr. Kerby took a look at his tax bill, he would see that school taxes, while they make up a majority of the taxes he pays, do not make up 100 percent of the taxes.

First, I would suggest that the schools be released from unfunded mandates. Why do taxpayers pay for private school students to be ferried to their schools? It's ridiculous and most other states don't require public financing of private school transportation.

Second, taxpayers should not be funding the textbooks or other resources for private schools.

Third, how about the unfunded mandate of government testing of our students? It's costly and doesn't add to their education.

Now, to the nuts and bolts: I'm fairly convinced that Graham Kerby believes in no public education.

He's part of a movement to dismantle the public school system in the United States.

It is probably shocking to most people, but there are people who believe that government sponsored education is plain wrong and that it should be completely up to parents to educate their children.

They run for election on school boards, they join voucher movements, or they snipe constantly at the system.

They spread ill will.

For the record, I'm not a teacher, nor have I ever been. I am not employed by a school district either.

One final thought: there's an old expression about stepping over a dollar to pick up a nickel. In his focus on k-12, he overlooks a boondoggle right in his backyard.

If Graham Kerby really were to do his homework, he would investigate state salaries for administrators at Stony Brook University. As for his estimate of the President's salary, it did not include Dr. Kenny's housing or reimbursable expenses. Nor does it include her ability to collect income from sitting on corporate boards.

[whatever]

Sounds good to me.

[3 Village Local]

It's unfortunate that so many bad ideas were in this editorial; however, a few important points were also thrown in there.

The most important point here is that there are too many administrators, and their salaries are too high.

In our 3 Village school district not only do we have principals and assistant principals in every school, we also have directors of elementary ed, secondary ed, etc. All of these people are making over $130K, and higher. Cut back by 50% the number of admin positions, and now we're talking about saving real money. I'm sure that every school district on LI has too many administrators.

Benefits: Let's be practical. In the private sector, paying 100% coverage for health benefits ended about 15 years ago...so why does this continue with the schools? And paying for pensions. Sorry administrators and teachers, you must start contributing to these plans. We can't afford it anymore.

All the other suggestions that are made in this article are impractical, and would never work, and probably not really save money.

GK, start with administrators, and salaries, and stick to that.

[disappointed parent]

I believe another way to save money with LI school districts is to combine some of them, and have one superindent and admin office covering more than one high school. Then the cost per student will go down.

[Nassau County Civic Assoc]

Some more reform suggestions:

Educational Law and or General Municipal Law should be amended to impose a clear duty on each and every school board member or officer to report fiscal misconduct of any other board member, officer or school employee relative to school financial matters. This shall include the thief, misappropriation of school funds, property and or proprietary information. Violations shall constitute a class A misdemeanor.

All school districts must promulgate and maintain a code of ethics with an annual certification that school board members or officers are in compliance with the code. This code must require that any conflict of interest must be publicly disclosed. Compliance should be governed by a state conflicts board. This should include but not be limited to vendor relationships, contracts for services or goods, financial interests, school employees, etc.

All school districts should be required to provide full disclosure of all entities that have a relationship with a school district. This shall include but not be limited to providing services, receiving services from the school district and or the use of school property for any purpose by an entity.

Educational Law should be amended to permit a private right of enforcement by any school district resident pertaining to a breach of duty or knowingly filing a false certification by a school board member or officer relative to their fiduciary duties. This would be similar to the federal False Claims Act. This would allow a citizen to litigate an action of behalf of the taxpayers to recoup the value of any benefit that was wrongfully received by the respondent and or seek restitution of any lost monies owed to the school district. This private right of enforcement would include the imposition of reasonable attorney fees and court costs to be borne solely by the respondent.

www.nassaucivic.com

[Morgan Wynne]

Kerby is completely off when he says adminstators don't have to be teachers first. Hmm...how are they supposed to observe, help, hire and educate teachers? How are they supposed to understand educational principals, practices and theories, if they did not go to college to become teachers first? If I was a teacher I wouldn't want to be taking orders from someone who was not a certified teacher. There's a big difference between the long island railroad conductor and our children's educators. and no im not a teacher or school employee. i just have common sense. if i worked at newsweek id look into getting kerby fired

[Three Village Resident]

Ask Mr. Kerby if he's even a citizen of the US...

I heard he's here on a work visa and really should go back home...Hmmm, maybe they don't want him either.

[Brian Brightwaters NY]

I commend Mr. Kirby (Dr. Gak) for his efforts in bringing these issues to light...He may not have all the answers but he is certainly asking the right questions....I just found out that the superintendant of the Bayshore LI NY School District makes almost twice the salary of the senators, congressmen... and president of the most powerful country in the free world...yes thats right the superintendant of the Bayshore school district makes over $230,000...which is more than the president of the United States makes...is there something wrong with this picture???..this is outrageous......This has got to stop...these teachers and administatrators think its an entitlement program....our kids will be paying for this for the rest of their lives....its no wonder kids are getting educated here on LI than leaving the area to live somewhere else...so where is the return on our investment??...where do I sign up for the revolt against this madness
world

Rob wrote:

It seems obvious from the letter that Mr. Zisel is either a teacher or administrator in one of the school systems or related to one. It reminds me over and over how the teachers union says we need more money for education when most of that money goes not to education but to teachers salary, pension and health plans.
Certainly the high teachers salaries are a result of amateur school boards facing professional teachers unions. there are at least 30 applicants for every teching job on Long Island, certainly not a shortage of teachers.
Mr. Kerby should be commended and encoraged to keep up his fact finding mission! If Mr Kerby's suggestions are part of a "glib opinion piece", perhaps Mr. Zisel could give us his list of reccomendations for slashing this overwhelming expense.

[Brian Brightwaters NY]

Well said...thank you...I would encourage everyone to check out the website for admin salaries her on LI and you will see the number of school adminstrators is absurd...and most postions are all making over $100k...the other half of this equation that no one is looking at is when these people retire and start collecting their pensions...Right now becise wall st. has tanked...these pension funds are under funded.... at the present time due to the state of the economy...so guess what...your taxes will be going up again to pay for it
QUOTE who="disappointed parent"]I believe another way to save money with LI school districts is to combine some of them, and have one superindent and admin office covering more than one high school. Then the cost per student will go down.

[former teacher]

3 Village Local wrote:

It's unfortunate that so many bad ideas were in this editorial; however, a few important points were also thrown in there.
The most important point here is that there are too many administrators, and their salaries are too high.
In our 3 Village school district not only do we have principals and assistant principals in every school, we also have directors of elementary ed, secondary ed, etc. All of these people are making over $130K, and higher. Cut back by 50% the number of admin positions, and now we're talking about saving real money. I'm sure that every school district on LI has too many administrators.
Benefits: Let's be practical. In the private sector, paying 100% coverage for health benefits ended about 15 years ago...so why does this continue with the schools? And paying for pensions. Sorry administrators and teachers, you must start contributing to these plans. We can't afford it anymore.
All the other suggestions that are made in this article are impractical, and would never work, and probably not really save money.
GK, start with administrators, and salaries, and stick to that.

Stop the corruption by starting with the overinflated administrator salaries. At the North Bellmore School District, questions to the board of education and contact with the board of education must go through the filter of the Superintendent. The superintendent boldly states that all questions to the board must go through him, check out their web-site. The annual reviews of the superintendent cannot be verified if one cannot contact the board. How can superintendent’s contract be reviewed, or its existence verified when covered in a cloak of secrecy? FOIL requests to the board have been ‘foiled.’ Should superintendents be allowed to fire teachers when those teachers verifiably outrank them in educational experience, skills, and credentials, certifications and degrees? Are business degrees sufficient for administrating educational decisions? Then one has to contend with the Law Firm, JASPAN, SCHLESINGER & HOFFMAN, since no one in the district makes a move without consulting them.

Please see the following websites:

http://teacheradvocacylongisland.blogspot.com ...
http://tenuredenial.blogspot.com/
Story on the National Association for the Prevention of Teacher Abuse (NAPTA)
http://www.endteacherabuse.org/Hall.html
Story on Parent Advocates. Org
http://www.parentadvocates.org/index.cfm ...
Story on Americas Worst Employers
(My Nightmare at North Bellmore)
http://americasworstemployers.blogspot.com/se...

[North Bellmore]

Morgan Wynne wrote:

Kerby is completely off when he says adminstators don't have to be teachers first. Hmm...how are they supposed to observe, help, hire and educate teachers? How are they supposed to understand educational principals, practices and theories, if they did not go to college to become teachers first? If I was a teacher I wouldn't want to be taking orders from someone who was not a certified teacher. There's a big difference between the long island railroad conductor and our children's educators. and no im not a teacher or school employee. i just have common sense. if i worked at newsweek id look into getting kerby fired

Sadly, it is true. Last time a teacher in a classroom, roughly 1985. Education degrees? Knowledge of Education Law and Regulations? Does he have a viable contract? These are questions the community should ask of their superintendent -if they are allowed to talk to their BOE.

[anonymous]

High school juniors and seniors can take classes at Stony Brook University for $100 a class, through the Young Scholars program. These are real college classes, generally offered in the late afternoon or early evening, and open to qualifying high school students. So, this is actually a viable alternative to at least some of the AP classes, that could in fact save money for many local districts.