Wichita - February 7, 2011 - Continuing on a
previous effort,
KansasOpenGov.org has added five additional school districts
checkbook and
payroll registers. Fully searchable data is available for school districts in Topeka, Wichita, Great Bend, Colby, and Pittsburg. As some school districts continue with their lawsuit against the state, legislators, parents and others searching for ways to operate schools more efficiently can use this newly available information to make better decisions.
Last month, on KansasOpenGov.org, the same information was added for the Hutchinson, Garden City, Emporia, Shawnee Mission, and Olathe school districts.
"Everyone is facing economic challenges, so we have to find ways to provide essential services more efficiently. The good news is that the Kansas state department of education says total aid to schools is expected to be over $12,000 (per-pupil) this year and about 25% more than in 2005, so there are lots of places to look for possible savings," said KPI President Dave Trabert.
One of the most surprising things discovered is that seven of the districts actually had higher payroll expense in 2010 than they did in 2008. Topeka's payroll was essentially flat and Colby declined by 7%. Garden City changed computer systems in 2008 and a full-year comparison wasn't available.
Other noteworthy findings from the five districts posted today include;
- USD 259 Wichita had 29 employees earning above $100,000 last year, whereas Olathe had 52 people above the $100,000 level and Shawnee Mission had 72;
- USD 501 in Topeka has 11 employees serving as "curriculum coordinators";
- USD 259 Wichita spent $7.7 million last year with Dell Computer; the total over the last three years is $24.6 million.
- The second highest paid employee for Great Bend, USD 428, is the activities director and was paid $97,463 in 2010. The curriculum coordinator was the 3rd highest paid.
- Colby, USD 315, has 15 teachers among their top 25 highest paid employees;
- Among the ten districts surveyed, Pittsburg, USD 250, spent the least per-pupil on "administration" at $856 and had nine teachers among their 25 highest paid employees.
"With private sector employment less than we had ten years ago, Kansas will continue to deal with budget challenges in the coming years, but we can't let that get in the way of student achievement and providing new learning opportunities. With access to better information, we can redirect resources and challenge our kids to succeed in school and in the future," concluded Trabert.
