Reply #45: There is an assumption that all the consultants are reformer consultants

[AngryAmish]

That well may be so. But my wife's uncle is a NYC school "consultant". He was an administrator but maxed out his pension. So he retired. Then he was hired back as a "consultant". Mostly the same work, better hours and a new title. He gets a pension, school district does not have to have an employee on the books.
on edit: I may not have read the op well enough. It seems the consultant racket has increased 455% over the last 8 year. Yikes!