By Joyce Kryszak
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Buffalo, NY – This week, Business first releases its annual school rankings. Two new categories were added this year, including a look at the 200 highest paid administrators.
The annual ranking provides a scrutiny of local schools. This year administrator salaries are also under the spotlight. According to the report, more than 200 superintendents and other administrators earned six figure salaries in 2007-2008.
Buffalo Schools Superintendent James Williams topped the list at $220,000 a year. Clarence's superintendent, Thomas Coseo came in second at nearly $190,000. Business First Editor Scott Thomas coordinated the review of salaries from 98 districts. Thomas said no value judgements were made. He said salary level was the only criteria considered.
Taxpayer groups have long railed against administrator salaries. According to the report, area administrators earn about 15 percent less than the statewide average.
Still, the new rankings will, undoubtedly, give critics some new ammunition.
James Ostrowski is a Buffalo lawyer and founder of the taxpayer watchdog group, Free New York. He said this shows why we have the highest property taxes in the country. Ostrowski's group proposes school districts be molded back into local governments.
This year's report did have something good to say about the product coming out of the schools. Editor Scott Thomas said the 100 best and brightest students were honored for the first time this year.
Students were ranked based on a combination of assessments, including class standing, regents scores, and class loads. The median grade point average was 98.77.
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