District response to the Glendale ESD Performance Audit Report

Recommendations Administration 1. The district should evaluate whether it can reduce its number of administrative positions to produce cost savings. The district agrees it should always look for ways to reduce administrative costs and began that process in the spring of 2008. There are some one-time non-recurring costs amounting to $388,201 included in the administrative category for the 2007/08 fiscal year contributing to this variance. During the 2007/08 fiscal year GESD was in the process of constructing a classroom wing at the Jack/Mensendick campuses. In order to accommodate the 200 displaced students, the district opened an “annex” school located on the district office site that required one-time administrative costs. In addition, an administrator on assignment was used for managing some special projects. These were eliminated at the close of the 2007/08 fiscal year. The amount per pupil for these one-time administrative costs amounts to $30. The comparative districts use counselors and teachers on assignment to provide many of the same services provided by GESD assistant principals. GESD assistant principals perform many support services (i.e., counseling to students, linking families and students to social services and providing student interventions). Surveys conducted of the parents and community showed that many students had left the district due to their parents’ concerns about discipline. Additionally, the Governing ...