Administrationland

School Union 69 Superintendent David Wiggin (BDN, March 28) pleads that Maine superintendents “deserve your support – not your ridicule.” Although superintendents might not deserve ridicule, about half of them deserve to be moved out of their offices and back into the classroom. Recent U.S. Department of Education data indicate that Maine has 2.1 times as many full-time-equivalent (FTE) “school district officials or administrators” per student than the national average.

I do not doubt that our school district administrators are dedicated and conscientious. But why does it take more than twice as many of them to do the work than in the rest of the country? Rural states such as Idaho and Montana have far fewer school district administrators per student than the national average. New Hampshire and Vermont have considerably fewer district administrators per student than Maine.

The most disturbing aspect of having so much school district administration is that it draws precious resources away from the education of our youth. The Maine Department of Education reports that the average superintendent salary in 2003-04 was $83,650, more than twice the average classroom teacher salary. Each district superintendent means two fewer teachers in the classroom.

But I shouldn’t just pick on the superintendents. Maine is also top-heavy in school principals. Recent U.S. Department of Education data indicate that Maine has 45 percent more FTE principals and assistant principals per student than the national average. Other rural states, as well as New Hampshire and Vermont have fewer school administrators.

I also shouldn’t just pick on public K-12 education. We see the same pattern in Maine’s public higher education. Recent U.S. Census Bureau data indicate that in Maine’s public post-secondary education there are 3.6 FTE non-instructional staff for each FTE instructional staff. This is by far the highest ratio in the nation. The national average is 1.9 non-instructional staff per professor.

The University of Maine System has seven university administrations currently serving a cumulative student body of 24,118 FTE students. Recent U.S. Department of Education data indicate that there are 41 individual campuses around the country with higher FTE enrollments than our seven-administration university system. There are three university administrations in Aroostook and Washington Counties that serve only 2,866 FTE students. Like the university system, the Maine Community College System also has seven administrations.

Again, each college president and vice-president means fewer teachers in the classroom, fewer researchers in the lab, and fewer dollars for financial aid. Yet, the University of Maine System’s plan for administrative consolidation appears dead. This plan has met considerable opposition, and last week steps were taken in the Legislature to essentially prevent such consolidation.

Public education is not the only area where there is an abundance of administration in Maine. There seems to be an abundance of administration throughout state and local government. For example, recent U.S. Census Bureau data indicate that Maine has one FTE employee in state and local government administration for every 294 people. This is the fifth lowest ratio in the country. The national average is one per 439 people.

Much has been made about reducing Maine’s tax burden from being the second highest in the country. If this all this talk is to turn into reality, then significant inroads must be made in reducing Maine’s duplication in the administration of state and local public services.

Philip Trostel is an associate professor of economics and public policy at the University of Maine.