Question 1: Walk us through the school’s payroll.

 

There’s just over 13,000 people on the Baltimore school payroll from last year.

 

Only half of those (6,420) are teachers, principals, guidance counselors, school nurses.

 

The other half includes police and custodians but also lots of positions you might not expect.

 

The list of job titles in the school district is very long. There are almost 70 different kinds of managers (one for communications, one for energy efficiency, etc.) There are 10 kinds of administrators (one for employee benefits, one for family engagement, etc.) 16 kinds of analysts. Over 40 kinds of coordinators. Over 50 kinds of directors.

 

 

Question 2: How much money do these administrators make?

 

Baltimore has two Directors of Environmental Health each making $160,000.  

 

There are four directors of engagement: one for families, one for students, one for community, and one for employees. All make over $150,000.

 

There’s a director of equity, a senior director of equity, five educational specialists of equity, and a director for equity-centered principal development.

 

There’s a chief communications officer making $233,000, and an executive director of communications ($170,000), and a manager of communications ($93,000).

 

The executive director of strategic resourcing and financial management makes $213,000. Maybe it would be better financial management to not pay someone $213,000.

 

 

Question 3:  What’s the takeaway for parents?

 

We just talked a couple of weeks ago about how Maryland is increasing its education spending per student 16% faster than inflation over the past decade, but students’ performance on standardized math and reading exams is falling compared to the rest of the country. 

 

High administrative costs might be one reason why. Total spending doesn’t tell the whole story. Students benefit when funding goes toward hiring teachers or funding educational programs, but so much is being spent on other job positions and programs.