Politics & Government

Superintendents Could Lose Big Under Cuomo's Proposed Cap

Governor's measure would limit school district heads' pay to at most $175,000.

The superintendents of the Hewlett-Woodmere and Lawrence school districts stand to lose about $100,000 from their yearly salaries if Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed bill to place a cap on superintendent salaries is passed into law.

Under the proposal, most Nassau County superintendents would only be able to earn a maximum of $175,000 per year. However, since both Five Towns school districts serve slightly less than 3,000 students each, according to recent state report cards, the caps are lowered to $155,000.

"We must wake up to the new economic reality that government must be more efficient and cut the cost of the bureaucracy," Cuomo said last week. "We must streamline government because raising taxes is not an option. Reducing back-office overhead, administration, consultants and encouraging consolidations are the best targets to find savings."

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The cap would only affect school superintendents and could only be applied after existing contracts expire. However, each individual district would have the voting power to overturn the salary cap and could do so during school budget votes.

More that 33 percent of school superintendents in New York State earn more than $175,000. According to Cuomo's office, this bill has the potential of $15 million in savings.

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The superintendent of the Hewlett-Woodmere School District, Dr. Joyce Bisso, earns an annual salary of $265,000, which does not include benefits, according to the New York State Education Department. Dr. John Fitzsimons, Lawrence’s superintendent who is retiring at the end of school year, earns a salary of $255,000, not including benefits.

Hewlett-Woodmere’s three assistant superintendents earn annual salaries that range from $196,000 to about $250,000. Lawrence’s two assistant superintendents earn $135,187 and $166,464.

Bisso could not be reached for comment.

Lawrence assistant superintendent of curriculum and future superintendent Gary Schall, who was returning from a trip to Albany on Monday, said everything is on the table now. “Everyone has to give. We have to accept the fact that the country is in dire straits,” he said. “The one comment I heard from people up there is that it’s not business as usual.”

On the issue of pay caps, Schall said, “If this comes down from the state, we have no choice. Even without there being a choice, I’ve been an advocate of [administrators and teachers] giving back.”

The cap would impose salary limits as follows:

TIER ENROLLMENT SALARY CAP 1 0 - 250 $125,000 2 251 - 750 $135,000 3 751 - 1,500 $145,000 4 1,501 - 3,000 $155,000 5 3,001 - 6,500 $165,000 6 6,501 +
$175,000

* Salary data is from the NYS Education Department's Administrative Compensation Information for 2010-2011.


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