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Apache Junction Unified School
District (February 2009) |
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Apache Junction USD’s fiscal
year 2007 per-pupil administrative costs were 10 percent higher than the
comparable districts’ primarily because of payouts for unused leave time for an
unusually large number of retirements and resignations, and also because of
having more administrative positions. Also, the District should better secure
its accounting system. The District’s student transportation costs were about
twice the comparable districts’ average primarily because of the large
geographical size of the District and the distance to transport its students.
Also contributing to the higher mileage, the District had only one high school
and two middle schools and transported students from the entire district
boundaries to those schools. Apache Junction USD’s plant operation and
maintenance costs were 17 percent higher than the comparable districts’
primarily because of having more positions, high utility costs for a community
park jointly operated with the City of Apache Junction, and a costly maintenance
agreement for its copiers. Eligible employees received about $4,000 of
additional salary from Proposition 301 monies. However, the District awarded
performance pay to three employees who were not eligible and also spent about
$82,500 of menu option monies to pay for healthcare benefits for employees who
were not eligible. The District’s classroom dollar percentage of 54.4 percent
was about four percentage points below the state and comparable districts’
averages, and about seven points below the national average. Apache Junction USD
identified approximately 5 percent (304 students) of its students as English
language learners but will need to modify its programs to comply with new state
requirements.
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