Schools' administrative costs low

School Board members learned Tuesday that only Sarasota County spends less for each student on administration. They also approved a strict dress code at their meeting.

By KENT FISCHER

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 21, 2000

LAND O'LAKES -- Pasco County schools spend less money per student on administration than every other district in Florida except one, according to an annual state report presented to the School Board at its meeting Tuesday.

During the 1998-99 school year the district spent $331 per student on the administrative costs to run the 47,000-student system. Only Sarasota County spent less, at $323. The state average was $407 per student. Because districts' fiscal years don't end for several weeks, no figures are available for the school year that just ended last week. In 1997-98, Pasco's administrative costs were the fifth lowest in the state.

Chuck Rushe, the district's chief financial officer, said the lower costs mean more money for instruction. If the district were to spend merely the state average on administration, it would have to add about $3.5-million to Pasco's annual budget. Also Tuesday, the School Board officially adopted a tougher student dress code for the coming school year.

The dress code bans shorts and skirts whose bottoms are higher than four inches above the knee. Barred too are flip flops, shower sandals and hats, unless approved for medical purposes. Shirts must now be long enough to be tucked in, and low-cut blouses or any clothing that allows underwear to show through are taboo. The policy also requires that students wear their pants securely around their waists.

The board has been talking about beefing up the dress code for more than a year, and last year asked a district committee to toughen the standards. In the meantime, board members and administrators asked principals to crack down on risque student dress, and many did.

This spring, schools sent letters home to parents explaining the tougher requirements, and board members are warning parents that principals won't accept excuses come the new school year.

The board on Tuesday night also approved changes to the district's Pupil Progression Plan, which lays out the policies governing how students advance from one grade to the next.

The revised plan eliminates the district's requirement that middle school teachers base 25 percent of their grades on student attendance and classroom participation. Teachers will develop their own grading systems, with the approval of principals.

At a previous meeting during which the change was discussed,administrators said many parents, teachers and students didn't favor giving so many points for participating in class -- something students are supposed to do anyway.

-- Staff writer Kent Fischer covers education in Pasco County. He can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6241 or (800) 333-7505, ext. 6241. His e-mail address is kfischer@sptimes.com.

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