The educational leader of the small-town Columbus Grove Local School District in Putnam County is happy to be last on one particular list.
"We pride ourselves on keeping our costs down," Superintendent Robert Jennell said last week. "But at the same time, we have been an excellent and effective-rated school district academically."
The majority of Ohio districts - including all of those in Lucas County and most in northwest Ohio - spent more money per student last year compared to the previous school year, according to Ohio Department of Education data.
School leaders said the increases in per-pupil expenditures were because of rising costs coupled in some cases by lower enrollment.
Columbus Grove, which has just 850 students, spent $6,876 per student last year - less than any other district in the state.
"We were not striving to be number one in cost per pupil," Mr. Jennell said. "We are just not making spontaneous decisions and we have had a very conservative board, [and a] conservative administration prior to my time as superintendent."
The state's island districts, Kelleys Island and Put-in-Bay, are at the opposite end of the spectrum in the No. 1 and 2 spots, followed by five Cuyahoga County school districts that ranged from $18,761 per student in Cuyahoga Heights to $15,151 in Shaker Heights.
Education department data shows regular year-to-year increases for per-pupil expenditures for most districts.
For the 2006-07 school year, 120 districts reduced the amount spent per student over the previous year while 494 averaged more spent per student.
Per-student spending for Toledo Public Schools, the region's largest district with nearly 29,000 students, increased over last year.
In 1997, the district averaged $6,222 per student compared to $11,320 last academic year.
The per-pupil expenditure is calculated by dividing a district's total cost by its average daily attendance.
Among suburban districts near Toledo last year, Sylvania spent $9,647, Perrysburg spent $10,144, Oregon spent $11,055, and Rossford spent $11,503.
"Gas costs go up, utility costs go up, just like your average taxpayer," Toledo Superintendent John Foley said. "Those costs would continue to go up even if your number of students stays the same."
Toledo Public has had enrollment declines for more than a decade - which by itself would raise the per-pupil spending average. Several years of deep budget cuts to address deficits has helped to lower those averages, Mr. Foley said.
The district still spends less per student than Ohio's other urban districts, with the exception of Akron.
Youngstown spent more per student than the other urban systems and rounded out the state's overall top 10 by spending an average of $14,862.
"In Toledo's case, our reliance on state funding has increased significantly in the past five years," Mr. Foley said. "We also have a higher number of students who fit under the free and reduced poverty scale and there are dollars to support those students."
The National Center for Education Statistics estimated that students who live below the poverty line need 1.2 times more funding than other students do.
Scott Ebright, spokesman for the Ohio School Boards Association, said the per-student spending average is greatly affected by teacher salaries.
"Some of that has to do with the ability to raise money locally through levies, but a lot has to do with the age and experience of the teaching staff and the salary schedule," Mr. Ebright said. "If your salary schedule is higher than neighboring districts, you are going to attract teachers who stay longer and go higher on the salary schedule."
Mr. Ebright also said districts that have greater percentages of special education, disabled, and non-English-speaking children will have higher costs.
The Center for Special Education Finance estimates that disabled students need 1.9 times more money.
Allison Perz, executive director of the Toledo-based Ohio Council of Community Schools, said charter schools spend considerably less per student than the traditional public schools.
"From what we have seen, it varies, and largely varies management company to management company, but across the board, there does seem to be a reduced rate of spending pattern because the charters do get less per student allocated." Ms. Perz said. "They are running a much slimmer and conservative pace than their district counterparts, and that is reflected in their spending."
The average teacher salary at Horizon Science Academy charter school in downtown Toledo for example was $30,692 last year compared to an average teacher salary of $50,293 for Toledo Public Schools.
Compared to all districts in Lucas and Wood counties last year, Ottawa Hills had the highest average teacher salary, $63,842.
It spent $13,343 per student, more than any district in either county.
"When you have a small district, many times the economy of scale does not work in your direction," said Cathleen Heidelberg, Ottawa Hills superintendent. "We have a very experienced staff, a number of our staff have been with the school district for many years, and the majority of our staff have advanced degrees."
Ms. Heidelberg said Ottawa Hills' enrollment also has dropped, leading to an increase in the per-pupil spending.
"When we look at per-pupil spending, we look at districts that are similar to us across the state in funding sources, size, and we typically look at districts that are quite frankly very high achieving," she said.
Ottawa Hills is the top local school district in the state's academic rankings released in August. It is the third-highest rated in the state, with a 108.5 performance index score.
Wyoming schools in Hamilton County was the highest-rated district, with a 109.3 performance index. Solon schools southeast of Cleveland, which scored 108.6 performance index, was second. Those school districts spent $10,677 and $11,373 per student, respectively.
Ohio spent an average of $8,963 per student during the 2003-04 school year and Michigan spent $9,072 the same year, according to U.S. Census data.
The Michigan Department of Education said last week it could not provide individual per-student spending averages for its districts.
New Jersey spent an average $12,981 per pupil in 2004 on public school education funding, which was more than any other state that year.
New York was second with $12,930, followed by the District of Columbia with $12,801, Vermont with $11,128, and Connecticut with $10,788.
Utah spent the least - an average $5,008 spent per pupil that year.
Nationally, $9,969 is the projected average expenditure per pupil for fall enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools in 2007-08, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Contact Ignazio Messina at: imessina@theblade.com or 419-724-6171.
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