Arlington Schools Seem Destined to Remain High-Cost Producer
Yesterday, the Superintendent presented his proposed budget for FY2006 that will be effective on July 1, and once again, the other school districts in the Washington area will be hard-pressed to exceed Arlington's cost-per-pupil. According to the Superintendent's proposed budget (page 49), the cost-per-pupil will increase by 7.4% going from $15,298 per student to $16,429 per student if the School Board accepts the proposed budget. As we 'growled several times last month, the Arlington schools already lead the Washington region in that regard. We haven't taken apart the budget, yet, but there are some curious numbers, or in the the Superintendent's words, "momentum builders," e.g., the press release on the budget says the proposed budget is only 1.4% over the current budget, but the budget proposes increasing teachers pay by 8.1%. We understand the Schools' needs, but it appears the Superintendent does not understand that the taxpayers of Arlington are becoming tapped-out.