Farwell Area Schools - 10-YEAR Enrollment, Staffing & Administrative Trends

[Shadowninja]

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