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Tempe Elementary’s fiscal year
2003 administrative costs were over 33 percent higher than what the comparable
districts averaged because it has more schools serving fewer students, more
district-level administrative staff, and desegregation spending. The comparable
districts, on average, served 749 students per school, while Tempe Elementary
served only 541 students. Further, the District reported having about 40 more
district-level administrative staff than what the comparable districts
averaged. The District’s food service program was self-supporting, and its cost
per meal was the same as the comparable districts’ average. However, its student
transportation costs were high when compared to districts with a similar number
of route miles and riders. If the District could bring its student
transportation costs down to the comparable districts’ average, it could
potentially move $140,000 into the classroom. Tempe Elementary’s per-pupil plant
operation and maintenance costs were 43 percent higher than the comparable
districts’ average, primarily due to paying higher salaries and benefits. The
District spent its Proposition 301 monies in accordance with statute and the
board-approved spending plan. Further, the District spent $13.6 million on
desegregation to address language barriers and racial imbalances among its
schools. The District’s fiscal year 2003 classroom dollar percentage was 55.6
percent, which is 3 percentage points lower than the state average and 5
percentage points below the comparable districts’ average.
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