Sahuarita Unified School District

In fiscal year 2002, the District’s administrative costs were 17 percent lower than the average for comparable districts.  The District maintained fewer administrative staff per student and spent less on administrative supplies and purchased services.  The District’s food service program operated efficiently with a cost per meal that was similar to comparable districts’.  However, the District’s meal prices were not adequate to cover its costs, resulting in a program loss of more than $56,000. The District contracted with a private vendor to operate its transportation program; however, the District did not adequately review transportation billings and paid approximately $200,000 in overcharges during fiscal years 2002 and 2003.  The District’s plant operation and maintenance costs were significantly higher than comparable districts’ average, primarily due to it having 43 percent more building space per student.  Largely because of the high transportation and plant operation and maintenance costs, the District’s classroom dollar percentage was 49.2 percent, well below the state-wide average of 58.2 percent.  Finally, the District spent its Proposition 301 monies appropriately.