Posted by bob o' on May 19, 2007 at 21:50:02 (EST):
In Reply to: the schools again. just the facts please posted by bob o' on May 19, 2007 at 21:32:11 (EST):
: ASD total budget for this year is 79, 497, 200. This is taken from the website. Pupil transportation costs are 7, 250, 000. Operations and maintenance is 7,500, 000. This includes the costs of maintaining 4 high schools, a middle school and 7 elementaries. This also, I believe, includes the custodial salaries. So these 2 areas make up about 18 per cent of the budget.
: We have 481.5 teachers teaching about 6038 students. So our teacher per student ratio is 12.5. 12.5 students per teacher. The total salaries of 481.5 teachers is 38,698,200. So let's make people think. how will these figures be impacted by consolidating schools. Will bussing negate the savings in maintenance and in reducing staff? Please don't say bussing will cost more and the district won't cut jobs. Let's get some real facts. Check out the various web sites. Ask your school board members for the real figures. Let's try to look at trhe facts for once and try to offer real solutions.
Upper st. Clair school district has come up in discussions. It is hard to compare districts in general but I think some comparisons here are pertinent. Our budget is 79, 497,200. USC budget is 51,444,940. Our operations and maintenance is 7,500,000. This comprises the janitorial staff salaries and heating, etc costs for 12 buildings. USC'S operations and maintenance costs are 5,299,020 for 1 high school, 1 middle school and 3 elementaries. It should be noted that USC has 4100 students and we educate about 6038. Our bussing is 7,250,000. Their bussing costs are 2,511,190. Granted they are just a city and their bussing costs will be smaller. They have 285 teachers for 4100 students. This is an average of 14.7 per teacher. We have 481.5 teachers for our 6038 students giving us an average of 12.5 per teacher. Our staff salary for 481.5 teachers is 38,698,100. Their total salaries for 285 teachers is 5,299,020. No one will argue that ASD teachers are not as highly paid as USC teachers. But here is something to think about. If we would raise our ratio to 14.5, we would need 416.5 teachers. How much savings would there be with 65 less teachers? So let's just argue facts. Any suggestions on how to raise the average to 14.5 per teacher? I am not arguing for consolidation or against it. I just want some suggestions on how to run this district more efficiently.