Dearest Readers,
Our review of Utica Community Schools (District Code 50210) begins, as always, with the public record.
Using the Michigan Department of Education's Bulletin 1014, we compared district financial data from 2014–15 to 2024–25 to better understand how funding and spending have changed over the past decade.
📊 Per-pupil funding from all sources increased from $9,201 to $15,501, an increase of $6,300 per pupil (68.47%), which is 32.64% above cumulative inflation over the same period.
Several major spending categories also increased:
• Instruction: $6,855 → $9,617 per pupil (+40.29%)
• Instructional Support: $810 → $1,809 per pupil (+123.33%)
• Business & Administration: $736 → $1,174 per pupil (+59.51%)
• Operations & Maintenance: $610 → $1,319 per pupil (+116.23%)
While those categories increased faster than inflation, average teacher salary increased from $77,435 to $83,611, a 7.98% increase, which was 27.86% below cumulative inflation during the same period.
Average pupil count (FTE) declined from 28,707.00 to 25,180.76, a decrease of 3,526.24 students (12.28%).
The MI School Data staffing reports provide additional context.
Student enrollment declined from 28,099 students in 2014–15 to 25,329 in 2024–25, a decrease of approximately 2,770 students (9.9%).
Despite that decline, staffing trends varied by category.
📚 Teacher staffing increased.
Teacher FTE increased from 1,515.25 to 1,588.06, while teacher headcount increased from 1,562 to 1,783.
🏛� Administrative staffing decreased.
Administrator FTE declined from 137.50 to 109.20, while administrator headcount declined from 141 to 111.
👥 Paraprofessional staffing changed in different ways.
Paraprofessional FTE increased from 283.79 to 347.19, while headcount decreased slightly from 390 to 377, suggesting a shift in staffing patterns rather than simply adding more employees.
🛠� Non-instructional staffing experienced the largest increase.
Non-instructional FTE increased by 220.91 positions, while headcount increased by 311 employees.
Substitute staffing remained relatively stable overall. Day-to-day substitute teacher headcount declined slightly (881 to 870), while day-to-day substitute paraprofessionals increased from 0 to 77.
As always, these figures are presented to provide context, not conclusions.
Financial reports and staffing reports tell us what changed over time. Understanding why requires looking at budgets, contracts, board decisions, enrollment trends, student needs, and other publicly available records together.
The goal isn't to tell anyone what to think.
The goal is to make public information easier to understand.
Sources: Michigan Department of Education Bulletin 1014 (2014–15 & 2024–25) and mischooldata.org.
Data compiled and visualized by Lady Budgetdown using publicly available records.
With receipts and respect.
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