Tempe Elementary School District

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.