We need fewer school administrators

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is cutting Long Island's education budget and there is a great hue and cry rising from the school superintendents about losing programs, increasing class sizes and laying off scores of teachers ["Governor: Dip into reserves," News, Feb. 9]. However, not one of them can look in the mirror and say "physician, heal thyself." But maybe, just maybe, this governor can see that while some teachers unions are voluntarily freezing pay, no one is looking at the extraordinary administrative bloat that exists in the ivory towers of these 124 districts.

Long Island's school superintendents have a combined salary of almost $25 million. Countless millions more are spent on assistant superintendents, directors, assistant directors, principals, assistant principals and support staffs. These are all approved by local school boards.

Of course the word "consolidation" can't possibly exist in this world, because if someone stays, then someone else has to go. So, of course, the kids and the teachers take the hit. School administration continues whistling in the wind, and hoping that no one is really watching the store.

Rich Starkey

Wantagh