Administrators In New York State Want To End LIFO But Say Nothing About Reducing The Administrative & Beauracratic Bloat In Their Own Ranks.

It would appear that high-level Administrators & School Boards would like to see the elimination of seniority-based layoffs known as "last in, first out" (LIFO). Over the last week since the New York State budget did not include the weakening or elimination of LIFO, Administrators throughout the State are getting on the end LIFO bandwagon. First, it was Mayor Bloomberg who proposed a bill to end LIFO, next, it was the New York State School Boards Association, made up of non-educators and bureaucrats and now it is the School District Superintendents who want LIFO reform. What is obvious is that these groups are not involved on the day-to-day operation of schools and in many cases are not even educators. However, these very same groups that clammier for the so-called LIFO reform are quiet about reducing their own Administrative bloat, instead they whine about teacher layoffs or reducing student services while ignoring the increased bureaucracy and Administrative salaries that have exploded in the last decade.

The Cuomo Administration found that there was an astounding 34% increase in Administration since 1997 . While there was a reduction of 4.6% in students. There was also a 9.6% increase in teachers. However, that is mostly explained by a reduction in class sizes, and special education requirements. That is why the Governor has told the School Districts to reduce the Administrative bloat before you layoff teachers. Interestingly, there has been dead silence about the Governor's report and for good reason. You can't scare parents by laying off some faceless bureaucrats but you can scare them by laying off teachers and student services such as sports.

Before, these bureaucrats can layoff teachers, the School Districts should be drawing up plans to get rid of unnecessary Administration and go back to the levels in 1997.