This is a follow up to my letter "Do The Math" published on August 30, 2010 in the online version of the Fire Island News.

In that letter, I referred to the astronomical amount being budgeted per pupil at the Woodhull School ($90,146 vs. a New York State average of $17,000).

To further analyze this boondoggle, the average salary for elementary school teachers nationally is $32,440 - $49,914 including bonus. In New York City, the fourth highest paying city, the average elementary school teacher salary is $41,073 - $62,434. (Source: www.payscale.com)

Astonishingly, the salaries at the Woodhull School are astronomical. Longislandschools.com reports the 2008 average salary for Woodhull School teachers as $96,228, significantly more than New York City teachers earn with much larger classes. Average class size in New York City is 22.1 students for grades K-3 and 24.6 students for grades 4-6. (Source: http://schools.nyc.gov). Average class size on Fire Island is 3.6 students (Source: http://www.longislandschools.com/districts/fire-island-school-district.html).

With the school district asking for a .72 percent increase to a whopping $5,988,833 for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, one can only wonder what is going through the minds of homeowners who are paying an exhorbitant amount in taxes for 20+ children currently enrolled in pre-K through the sixth grade.

Again, I urge readers to do the math and speak out.

Sharon Fiyalka