Report: Long Island Superintendent Paid $506K

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A report by a public spending watchdog group says the superintendent of a Long Island school system is the highest paid in the state.

The Empire Center for New York State Policy says Syosset School District superintendent Carole Hankin makes more than $506,000 in total compensation.

Tim Hoefer, who is director of the public spending watchdog group, spoke with 1010 WINS Thursday and weighed in on the matter.

"That's a lot of money.  If you look at the top list that we compiled, and this is just really based on what somebody brought home during that fiscal year, she is just about $100,000 higher than the next closest person," he said.

The group also says four districts in the state have average teacher salaries over $95,000.

"Do I think that overall pay is too high in school districts speaking generally?  Probably, I think that our schools pay more than neighboring states do.  If you break it down my region or by geographic area, I think that they pay more than counterparts do in different states," Hoefer said.

The report includes regional breakdowns that identify schools and employees by name and list salaries.

Salaries paid for by taxes and other government funds are public information under New York state law.

Earlier this year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed putting a cap on school superintendent's six-figure salaries as a way to save school districts and their taxpayers millions of dollars.

Currently, 31 percent of superintendents make over $179,000.

For more information about this latest report, visit www.seethroughny.net.

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