Dearest reader,
Now let us add the people to Meridian Public Schools' 10-year ledger.
And credit where credit is due: Meridian added teachers.
From 2014-15 to 2024-25:
🍎 Teachers: +15.38%
59.24 → 68.35 FTE
📚 Instructional Aides: +53.88%
10.43 → 16.05 FTE
🎓 Instructional Support: +185.71%
0.70 → 2.00 FTE
🧩 Student Support: +167.81%
3.51 → 9.40 FTE
Overall staffing increased 27.61%, from 165.81 to 211.59 FTE.
Now for administration.
🏛� LEA/Central Administrators: +27.88%
5.20 → 6.65 FTE
🏫 School/Building Administrators: -13.75%
8.00 → 6.90 FTE
📋 Total Administrators: +2.65%
13.20 → 13.55 FTE
That last number is important.
Meridian's total administrative staffing was essentially flat over the decade.
So Lady B is not going to tell you there was some enormous administrative hiring spree when the numbers don't show one.
But remember yesterday's receipt?
Business & Administration spending PER PUPIL increased 90.59% over the same decade — and 40.31% even after adjusting for inflation.
Yet total administrative FTE increased only 2.65%.
Now THAT raises an interesting question:
If the number of administrators barely changed, what drove such a large increase in Business & Administration spending per student?
Another breadcrumb for the ledger. 🪶
The numbers do not always give us the answer.
Sometimes they tell us where to start asking the question.
With receipts and respect.
#LadyBudgetdown #MeridianPublicSchools #MichiganSchools #SchoolStaffing #SchoolAdministration #EducationFunding #TeacherStaffing #SchoolTransparency #TaxpayerDollars #FollowTheMoney #WithReceiptsAndRespect