Wolverine Community Schools - 10-YEAR Financial Snapshot

[Shadowninja]

Dearest reader,

Lady B has arrived in Wolverine Community Schools.

And as always, we begin with ten years of numbers.

From 2014-15 to 2024-25:

Pupils:
378.00 → 248.73

That's 129.27 fewer pupils.

A decline of 34.20%.

More than one-third of the district's pupil count.

Now let's follow the money.

All-sources revenue per pupil:
$11,323 → $15,691
+38.58% nominal
+2.02% after inflation

In other words, revenue per pupil increased enough to slightly outpace inflation over the decade.

But the individual spending categories tell a much more interesting story.

Total instruction per pupil:
$7,967 → $9,494
+19.17% nominal
−12.27% after inflation

Instructional support:
$826 → $669
−19.01% nominal
−40.37% after inflation

Business & administration:
$1,913 → $2,806
+46.68% nominal
+7.99% after inflation

Operations & maintenance:
$815 → $1,446
+77.42% nominal
+30.62% after inflation

And then we arrive at average teacher salary.

$53,383 → $56,258

That's an increase of only $2,875 over ten years.

Nominally: +5.39%

After inflation: −22.41%

So let's put the decade together.

Wolverine lost 34.20% of its pupils.

Revenue per pupil increased 2.02% beyond inflation.

Business and administration increased 7.99% beyond inflation.

Operations and maintenance increased 30.62% beyond inflation.

Meanwhile, total instruction per pupil lost 12.27% of its purchasing power.

Instructional support fell 40.37%.

And average teacher salary lost 22.41% of its inflation-adjusted value.

None of those numbers, standing alone, tells us whether an expenditure was necessary or unnecessary.

But together?

They show us how the financial picture changed.

And that's exactly why Lady B follows the ledger one step at a time.

Next, we follow the people.

With receipts and respect.

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