Mobile Elementary School District

In fiscal year 2016, Mobile ESD’s student test scores on Arizona’s Measurement of Educational Readiness to Inform Teaching (AzMERIT) and Arizona’s Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) were not compared to peer district averages because ten or fewer of the District’s students took each test section. Although the District spent more per pupil than its peer districts averaged in all noninstructional areas, most of its operations were reasonably efficient for its small size. However, its administrative costs were much higher than peer districts’, on average, in part because of its superintendent’s salary. Additionally, the District needs to strengthen some of its accounting and computer controls and improve its transportation program oversight. Finally, the District likely has options to improve its operational efficiency and lower its costs, and it is important that Mobile ESD closely monitor and control its spending because it may be limited in its ability to generate additional revenues if needed.