Recently, you may have received a statewide email from the Oklahoma State Department of Education regarding school meal funding and administrative spending. We understand that this message raised some important concerns for families, and we want to provide clarity on how our local district operates.

At Cleveland Public Schools, we wholeheartedly agree that students deserve nutritious meals and that schools should use taxpayer dollars wisely and transparently. We also believe in addressing concerns directly with honesty, accuracy, and respect. Which is why we are excited to continue to offer free Breakfast and Lunch Everyday for EVERY Kid. This began last school year and should continue for the next several years. If you want this to continue make sure you fill out our household survey as honestly and transparently as possible.

The email references Administrative Costs, and what are administrative costs in a school district?
State law defines “administrative costs” very specifically. These include: The superintendent, assistant superintendents, building administrators, maintenance, and athletic directors, and their immediate staff. Staff who handle board relations, negotiations, and district-level coordination. Directors, supervisors, and consultants with administrative duties. Board of Education clerks and related positions. Management services contracted by the district

How Does Cleveland Measure Up?
According to state law, a school district our size is not allowed to spend more than 7% of its total expenditures on administrative costs.

We are proud to share that Cleveland Public Schools has consistently remained well below that limit, spending only 3.1% of our budget on administrative costs for each of the past two years.

To put that in perspective:

Our total district budget is approximately $15 million per year

That means about $465,000 annually is allocated toward administrative roles as defined above

The remaining 96.9% of our budget goes directly toward instruction, student services, transportation, nutrition programs, facilities, and other supports that serve our students daily

Moving Forward Together
As always, we encourage open communication. If you have questions about how our district operates, how we spend our funds, or how we plan for the future, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We value your trust, and we are committed to earning it every single day. For a complete look at our financial records you can search out state auditors website linked here, or come on by the central office and we will get you a physical copy of our budget book.

Thank you for your continued support of Cleveland Public Schools.