Kyrene Elementary School District

In fiscal year 2013, Kyrene ESD’s student achievement was similar to its peer districts’, and its operations were efficient overall. The District’s per pupil administrative costs were slightly lower than peer districts’, on average, but the District needs to strengthen controls over purchasing, cash collections, and its computer network and systems. The District operated an efficient food service program with a similar cost per meal, and its transportation program was efficient with slightly lower costs per mile and per rider. However, the District’s plant operations cost per pupil was much higher than peer districts averaged, because the District maintained a large amount of excess building space, operating its schools at only 69 percent of capacity, on average, in fiscal year 2013. Many of the District’s schools that operate far below their designed capacities are located near each other and provide opportunities for the District to reduce the number of schools it operates.