Millburn's School Per Pupil Cost Increases

The Millburn School District's per pupil costs increased between 2008-09 and 2009-10 and outpaces the state average, according to the school report card.

The state Department of Education released each district's school report card information on Tuesday. The report card includes a breakdown of student standardized test scores and other information, including financial breakdowns, for the 2009-10 school year.

The district's per pupil costs increased from $15,196 to $16,050 between the two years, according to the state figures. The comparative per pupil costs, which compares school districts with similar budget styles, increased from $13,967 to $14,910. In comparison, the state average per pupil cost in 2009-10 was $15,538.

Also, Millburn's median teacher salary rose from $69,758 to $79,142. The state's median teacher salary is listed as $61,840 in 2009-10.

Schools Supt. James Crisfield said the state's comparative cost guide, which is released around March 1, is the document he waits for to analyze the district's costs in comparison to other districts. The financial information listed in the school report card is not complete enough, he said.

The comparative costs, he said, may not be helpful in the short-term and assisting in doing the 2011-12 budget. But the report would be helpful to analyze the big picture, he said. School officials can realign over a number of years costs that may be out of step with other comparative districts.

Some of the district's financial information is listed in the chart below, but the full district financial information is on the school report card that can be found by clicking here.