It’s a fair question, because the person leading the state’s school system is getting a $155,000 a year raise to oversee a state educational system that spends the most in the nation — with raises like hers it’s easy to see why, by the way — while attaining middling educational results for children. This commissioner is overseeing a revamp of graduation standards that are just as likely to water down the value of a diploma as they are to actually prepare more students for college or the workforce. This is an education commissioner whose department needed state legislative action to require schools to adhere to the Science of Reading rather than a method increasingly shown in studies not to help children learn to read.

That education commissioner — the one doing such a bang-up job — somehow earned a $155,000 a year raise rather than a pink slip. And rather than justify the raise, the Regents chancellor is justifying the raise with talk of the gender pay gap and following necessary protocols.

“Today, many are questioning the very meaning of fairness and justice,” said Chancellor Lester Young. “In this moral moment, it is imperative to recognize that female leaders, particularly those of color, have historically been subjected to lower compensation rates compared with their peers. It is disheartening to witness the persistence of these unfair standards.”

Bull.

The last three state education commissioners have been women — including MaryEllen Elia, who by all accounts was a good commissioner who this same Board of Regents didn’t think merited this sort of salary increase. Shannon Tahoe was in the job a scant two years before fleeing for greener pastures, and she didn’t merit a 46% pay raise either. So spare us the moral imperatives, Mr. Young. Rather than fall back on fairness and justice, show people what Rosa has done to earn a $155,000 raise and $489,000 yearly salary at a time when so many families in New York state are struggling to make ends meet. Are test scores improving? Are achievement gaps narrowing? What has the state Education Department actually achieved other than removing Native American imagery in schools?

Are you satisfied with New York’s schools? We’re certainly not. But apparently the state Board of Regents is satisfied – and your tax dollars are how they show their appreciation to a commissioner for a job done – poorly.