Facilities Efficiency Task Force 2006 Background Information
Enrollment and expense trends affect the district’s ability to operate schools. Enrollment in Clallam County has been affected by changing demographics, lack of family wage jobs, and increasingly more scarce affordable housing.
- County-wide demographic trends show that over the past 25 years the average age of all citizens in Clallam County has increased from 31.7 to 46.1 years old (+14.4),at the same time the state-wide change has only gone from 29.8 to 36.5 years old (+6.7).
- Younger families (20-39), within the district, have declined significantly, as much because they can’t afford the cost of housing as that there aren’t as many historically high-wage jobs available for them.
- The district has a long-standing history of operating small neighborhood schools, compared to districts that are the same size, and compared to districts across the state. Port Angeles still has small elementary schools: districts over 2000 students average 460.78 students per school, districts of 3000-6000 students average 439.9 students per school, districts in the Olympic Educational Service District average 483.8 students per school, and Port Angeles averages 369.0 students per school. School facility expenses must decline commensurately with enrollment. With 1,200 less students to serve over 13 year period, the district cannot afford the fixed overhead cost of keeping the same number of buildings operating. This difficult reality is being experienced in other districts in Washington.
- The district historically spends more resources from its budget on instruction than do districts, on average, across the state and than do districts of similar size. Port Angeles’ direct instruction expenditures have been maintained between 71.04% and 72.06% over five years through 2004-05. State-wide districts spend between 69.21% and 69.32%. Same-size districts have spent between 68.56% and 69.52%.
- The district historically spends more resources from its budget on special education than do districts, on average, across the state and than do districts of similar size. Port Angeles’ special education expenditures have been rising from 9.5% to 12.5% of budget over six years. State-wide districts special education expenses rose from 9.2% to 10. 3%, and same-size districts rose from 9.2% to 9.6%
- Conversely, the district historically spends less resources from it budget on central administration than do districts, on average, across the state and than do districts of similar size. Port Angeles’ central administration expenditures as a percent of total budget for 2004-05 were 5.39%. State-wide districts average central administration expenditure were 6.10%, and same-size districts expenditures averaged 6.11%
Questions about facilities or budget items may be sent by e-mail to the Port Angeles School District at: budget_questions@pasd.wednet.edu. Budget suggestions may be sent by e-mail to: budget_suggestions@pasd.wednet.edu. Written comments may be submitted via U.S. Mail to:
Superintendent’s Office
Port Angeles School District
216 East Fourth Street
Port Angeles, WA 98362