Poll: How Much Does the School District Really Spend on the Kids?

The San Bruno Park School District's budget for next year was just approved, and the district will again be in the red.

With revenues of $19.7 million and expenditures of $21.2 million, the district will be operating with a $1.5 million deficit.

That deficit could grow, however, if doesn't pass. Even if it does pass, the district is looking at more possible cuts next year.

"It is important to note if the initiative passes there will still be a significant state budget problem," a staff report stated. "The District's budget is based on a conservative approach, one that assumes the tax initiative fails in November, and disastrous reductions are required to balance the District's budget."

Knowing that many have criticized the district for its spending—in which one school board member said the district's budget has been operating with a deficit for nearly 30 years—the district made an extra effort in its budget report to talk about how much money actually gets spent where it counts the most: in the classroom.

In response to the question, "Where does the district spend our tax dollars? The money doesn't go to the kids," the district provided the following facts:

• With 2,680 students, the district spends 78 percent of its budget directly serving students.
• 22 percent of the budget is spent on bringing students and teachers together in a productive environment
• With 101 classrooms, the cost to run each one will be $210,277 next school year. 

Out of the $210,277 that is spent for each classroom, the district said $163,918 of that amount is spent on the kids while only $46,358 is used for other needs, which include district administration, maintenance, debt payments and special education costs.