Dearest Readers,
Our review of Warren Consolidated Schools (District Code 50230) begins, as always, with the public record.
Looking at the Michigan Department of Education's Bulletin 1014 over the past ten years, several trends emerge.
📊 Per-pupil funding from all sources increased from $10,890 in 2014–15 to $18,286 in 2024–25—an increase of $7,396 per pupil (67.92%), which is 32.08% above cumulative inflation over the same period.
Instructional spending also increased.
Instruction: $6,776 → $10,447 per pupil (+54.18%)
Instructional Support: $1,385 → $2,945 per pupil (+112.64%)
Business & Administration: $1,175 → $1,891 per pupil (+60.94%)
Operations & Maintenance: $1,049 → $1,719 per pupil (+63.87%)
While these spending categories outpaced inflation, average teacher salary increased from $78,866 to $86,172, a 9.26% increase, which was below cumulative inflation during the same period.
Average pupil count (FTE) declined from 15,077.00 to 12,561.73, a decrease of 2,515 students (16.68%).
The Michigan School Data staffing reports provide additional context.
Student enrollment declined from 14,986 students in 2014–15 to 12,564 in 2024–25, a reduction of approximately 2,422 students (16.2%).
Despite that decline, overall staffing changed in several different ways.
Teacher staffing remained remarkably stable.
Teacher FTE increased only slightly from 860.80 to 862.60, while teacher headcount increased from 882 to 900.
Administrative staffing moved in the opposite direction.
Administrator FTE declined from 83.10 to 72.00, while administrator headcount decreased from 88 to 72.
The largest staffing growth occurred among paraprofessionals and aides, with FTE increasing from 74.04 to 197.44, and headcount rising from 114 to 252.
Non-instructional staffing also increased, with FTE rising from 443.31 to 547.56, while headcount increased from 909 to 952.
One additional point that stands out is the reported increase in day-to-day substitute teacher headcount, from 31 to 632. Because this reflects headcount rather than full-time positions, it may reflect changes in hiring, reporting, or substitute staffing practices rather than hundreds of additional full-time substitute teachers. The data alone doesn't explain the reason, so it's worth noting without drawing conclusions.
As always, these figures are presented to provide context, not conclusions.
Numbers can tell us what changed, but understanding why often requires additional discussion, board meetings, budgets, contracts, audits, and other public records.
The goal isn't to tell anyone what to think.
The goal is to make public information easier to understand.
Source: Michigan Department of Education Bulletin 1014 (2014–15 & 2024–25) and MI School Data.
Data compiled and visualized by Lady Budgetdown using publicly available records.
With receipts and respect.
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