At the Regionalization Study meeting, Matt stated that the ‘Cost per Student’ for Franklin was $35,000. Over $10,000 more than our neighbors in Bethlehem and Union. A FTS board member countered that number at the end of the meeting by stating the cost was $23K and implied that he was not accurate. We agree that the state published a $23k/student figure but when you actually look into the data from the Regionalization Study Report (9/5/24) the reality is much different.
According to the study the BOE just released and hosted a three hour meeting for, the raw data from the district operating budgets from 2023 says this:
- Bethlehem spends: $24,427/per student.
- Union spends: $25,737/per student
- Franklin Township spends: $35,208/per student
Below is a simplified chart on how this breaks down with supporting data.
The formula used this: (OPERATING COST / STUDENT POPULATION = COST PER STUDENT)
A few key points:
- We are paying $9,471 more than Union per student. (A Two School System)
– FTS would need to add 98 students and no additional expenses to match Union’s ‘Cost Per Student.’ - We are paying $10,781 more than Bethlehem per student (Also, a Two School System)
⁃ FTS would need to add 118 students and no additional expenses to match Bethlehem’s ‘Cost Per Student.’ - The board member was most likely citing the very website that we’ve shown was littered with false information placed by the district & former superintendent. State numbers may be a reflection of school-level fiscal data that our district submitted and/or intentionally has not been updated. Which is just another thing worth looking into by our BOE president. We’re not entirely sure how the state created the $23K figure. If anyone out there knows, we’re willing to learn. What’s notable is that Union and Bethlehem’s per student costs more closely line up between the study and the state’s website than FTS’s does.
⁃ Either way, if the financial data on the study is accurate, FTS would have needed an additional 124 students for the 23K ‘Cost Per Student’ to even remotely be accurate in 2023. Mathematically, what the board member said is improbable. - Like the fake achievements on awful scores, BOE members continue to show their willingness to situationally grab at straws to counter honest criticism without ever looking into the truth behind the numbers they are referencing.
- FTS’ 24-25 operating budget is 6%+ higher fueled by the massive tax levy increase, meaning that Franklin’s per student cost is most certainly even higher than study would indicate.
- The BOE was right about one thing, facts are important. Here’s looking at you.
Supporting Documentation
