Dearest reader... the ledger has arrived in Jenison. 🪶
And this one tells a slightly different story.
Over the last decade, Jenison Public Schools didn't lose students.
Enrollment GREW 23.9% from 4,842 to nearly 6,000 pupils.
So naturally, some spending should grow with it.
But your Lady still likes to see where the dollars went.
From 2014–15 to 2024–25:
🪶 Revenue per pupil: +57.4%
📚 Total instruction per pupil: +36.1%
🏫 Instructional support per pupil: +164.7%
📋 Business & administration per pupil: +61.6%
🔧 Operations & maintenance per pupil: +69.3%
🍎 Average teacher salary: +21.7%
For comparison, inflation over the same period was approximately 35.8%.
That means total instruction per pupil essentially kept pace with inflation.
Teacher salaries did not.
Meanwhile, instructional support spending per pupil increased more than 164%.
Now, a large percentage is not a verdict.
It is a breadcrumb. 🪶
And this particular breadcrumb leaves your Lady with a very simple question for the next ledger:
Jenison gained nearly 1,158 students.
Where did the staffing growth go?
Time to count some chairs. 👑
With receipts & respect.
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