Dearest reader,
Now that we have followed Farwell Area Schools' money for a decade, let's follow the people.
And this ledger takes an interesting turn.
From 2014-15 to 2024-25:
📉 Pupil FTE fell 29.24%.
🍎 Teacher FTE fell 23.14% - from 63.75 to 49.00.
📚 Instructional aide FTE went the other direction - from just 1.00 to 16.80.
And administration?
🏛� NCES district/central administration fell 50.00%.
🏫 School administration fell 52.60%.
Combined administrative FTE fell from 12.45 to 6.00 - a 51.81% decrease.
Yet overall NCES staffing actually increased from 177.15 to 188.11 FTE, or 6.19%.
So Farwell's ten-year story is not simply "more staff" or "fewer staff."
It is a story of WHERE the staffing changed.
Nearly 30% fewer pupils.
23% fewer teacher FTE.
Far fewer administrative FTE.
A substantial increase in instructional aides.
And slightly more total staff overall.
Those breadcrumbs matter as we keep working through the district.
Next, Lady B opens the compensation ledger. 👀
With receipts and respect. 💙
#LadyBudgetdown #FarwellAreaSchools #MichiganSchools #SchoolStaffing #Teachers #SchoolAdministration #PublicSchools #EducationSpending #Transparency #FollowTheMoney #WithReceiptsAndRespect