Waste fraud and abuse...welcome to NY Schools

My elementary school doesn't have a picture they dare publish on Classmates. I've got one in my photo files but that computer is being fixed so this is a good representation.  In this tiny building we had K-6 and 8 sections of each with 40 to a class. When I went there in the middle 50s it had about 1500 students. Crowded wasn't a word we use lightly.  It had a principal, Mr. Brown and his secretary and some other woman and that was the administration.  The middle school was in with the high school and that had another bazillion kids. The principal there I don't remember (my brother does - in spades).  School started at 8 and ended at 4.

Fast forward to our schools on Long Island.  First, the average student "per pupil spending" on the East End is in the $25-70,000 range with a few over $100,000k per kid. No kidding. Each system has a superintendent, even if it is a school with two classrooms and a principal.  Superintendents make uniformly over $200,000 a year with cars and expense accounts. It is a good gig. In our district of 2000 or so total students in three schools (elementary, middle and high school) we have

1 Superintendent
2 Assistant Superintendents
4 coordinating superintendents
1 elementary principal
2 assistant elementary principals
1 middle school principals
2 assistant middle school principals
1 high school principal
3 assistant high school principals
6 central administration workers
21 office staff (total)
6 guidance counselors

total: 50.  cost: $4.6 million or 8% of the budget.

In the little down of New Suffolk, the school budget is $825,000 for 8 students. The superintendent makes $200k plus. There are 2.5 teachers, each with under 5 years experience so they are making 50k each. The REST is administration.
A super, a secretary, a principal and a secretary 2.2 teachers and a custodian.

No wonder.