Dearest Readers,
Our ten-year look at Plymouth-Canton Community Schools continues, and this time Lady Budgetdown has turned her attention to staffing.
From 2014-15 to 2024-25, student enrollment declined from 17,483 to 16,100. A decrease of 7.9%.
Over that same period, total staff FTE increased from 1,907.61 to 2,157.20. An increase of 13.1%.
But one category rather distinctly separates itself from the rest of the ballroom:
👑 Administrative FTE increased 52.3%.
Administrators went from 81.20 FTE to 123.70 FTE, an increase of 42.50 FTE, during a decade in which the district served roughly 1,383 fewer students.
For comparison, during those same ten years:
* Teachers: +4.8%
* Paras/Aides: +20.6%
* Non-Instructional: +18.8%
* Administrators: +52.3%
Now, an increase does not tell us why those positions were added, nor does it establish whether they were necessary or unnecessary. Those are different questions.
But when administrative staffing grows by more than 50% while enrollment moves in the opposite direction, Lady Budgetdown believes the numbers are worthy of notice, and perhaps a question or two.
What changed during those ten years that resulted in 42.5 additional administrative FTE?
As always, the figures may begin the conversation. They needn't finish it.
📚 Source: Michigan Department of Education — MI School Data, Student Count & Staffing Count Snapshots.
With receipts & respect. 🪶
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