Follow the Money
Orange Unified School District’s budget is over $200 million annually.
Ask most parents where that money goes, and they’ll say: “Teachers, textbooks, and classrooms.”
But look at the actual spending, and you’ll find:
- Administrative overhead consuming larger percentages every year
- Outside consultants billing hundreds of thousands for “studies” and “training”
- New programs that require expensive licensing and ongoing fees
- Meanwhile: teachers buying classroom supplies with their own money
It’s time to flip the script: Classrooms first. Everything else second.
The Problem: Budget Bloat
1. Administrative Spending is Growing
Orange USD, like many California districts, has seen administrative costs grow faster than instructional spending over the past decade.
What this means:
- More central office positions
- Higher salaries for administrators vs. teachers
- Less money reaching actual classrooms
Example:
For every dollar spent on a new assistant superintendent, that’s $120,000+ not going to classroom teachers, aides, or materials.
2. Consultant Contracts are Out of Control
Districts routinely hire outside consultants for:
- Equity audits ($50K-$200K)
- Professional development (often mandated by the state)
- Curriculum reviews ($100K+)
- Strategic planning ($75K-$150K)
The problem:
Many of these consultants deliver generic reports, offer training that teachers find unhelpful, and then disappear—leaving no lasting benefit.
Real question:
Could those funds hire 2-3 more teachers instead? Could they buy new science lab equipment? Could they fund after-school tutoring?
3. “Innovative” Programs Drain Ongoing Budgets
Every few years, districts adopt new programs that sound great in presentations:
- New math curriculum with digital subscriptions ($200K+/year)
- Social-emotional learning platforms ($100K+/year)
- Data dashboards and assessment tools ($150K+/year)
These add up fast. And once adopted, they’re hard to cut because contracts lock districts in for 3-5 years.
Meanwhile:
- Teachers are still buying pencils, paper, and tissues out of pocket
- Libraries have outdated books
- Science labs lack basic equipment
- Class sizes grow because there’s “no money” to hire more teachers
What “Classrooms First” Actually Means
1. Prioritize Direct Classroom Spending
At least 60% of the budget should go directly to classrooms:
- Teacher salaries and benefits
- Classroom aides and support staff
- Textbooks and instructional materials
- Technology that students actually use (computers, software)
- Classroom supplies
Track it publicly. Every year, the district should report:
“This year, X% of our budget went directly to classrooms.”
2. Cut Unnecessary Consultants
New policy: No consultant contract over $50,000 without:
- Public justification at a board meeting (What problem does this solve? What are the expected outcomes?)
- Proof that internal staff can’t do it (Why can’t our own teachers or admin handle this?)
- Measurable results (How will we know if this was worth the money?)
And require post-contract reports: Did the consultant deliver value? Should we renew?
3. Fund Teachers, Not Bureaucracy
Teacher-to-administrator ratio matters.
If Orange USD has 1,500 students:
- Good ratio: 50 teachers, 5 administrators
- Bad ratio: 45 teachers, 10 administrators
Every time we choose to hire another coordinator, director, or assistant superintendent, we’re choosing NOT to hire a classroom teacher.
Classrooms first means: Freeze administrative hiring. Invest in teachers.
4. Transparent, Line-Item Budget
Parents should be able to see:
- How much is spent on consultants (by category)
- How much goes to administrative salaries vs. teacher salaries
- Every major contract over $25,000
Post it online. Update it quarterly. Make it searchable.
If a district won’t show parents where the money goes, parents have every right to ask why.
The Opposition Will Say…
“Administrative positions are required by the state.”
→ Some are. Many aren’t. And even required positions can be shared across districts (like special education coordinators). We need audits to prove which roles are truly necessary.
“Consultants bring expertise we don’t have.”
→ Sometimes true. But often, experienced teachers and staff could deliver the same training or analysis—if given time and resources. Invest in your own people first.
“Cutting programs will hurt students.”
→ Keeping bloated budgets and underfunded classrooms hurts students more. Every dollar wasted on a useless consultant is a dollar not spent on a teacher, a textbook, or a classroom aide.
“We’re already tight on funds.”
→ Then why are we still paying for consultants, adding admin positions, and renewing expensive program contracts? Tighten where it doesn’t hurt kids. Protect what does.
What the Budget Should Look Like
Hypothetical $200M Budget
Current (example):
- Instruction (teachers, materials): 55% ($110M)
- Administration: 15% ($30M)
- Facilities: 10% ($20M)
- Consultants & outside services: 5% ($10M)
- Everything else: 15% ($30M)
Classrooms-First Budget:
- Instruction (teachers, materials): 65% ($130M) ← +$20M more to classrooms
- Administration: 10% ($20M) ← Freeze new hires, cut unnecessary positions
- Facilities: 10% ($20M) ← Keep (safety matters)
- Consultants & outside services: 2% ($4M) ← Cut non-essential contracts
- Everything else: 13% ($26M)
That’s $20 million more going directly to classrooms.
That’s 150+ new teachers. Or smaller class sizes. Or updated textbooks for every student.
What Parents Need to Demand
From the School Board:
-
Adopt a “Classrooms First” Budget Policy
- At least 60% of spending must be direct classroom instruction
- No consultant contracts over $50K without board approval + public justification
- Annual report on percentage of budget reaching classrooms
-
Freeze Administrative Growth
- No new central office positions without eliminating an existing one
- Prioritize classroom teacher hiring over admin hiring
- Audit current admin positions: which are truly necessary?
-
Transparent Budget Dashboard
- Post all contracts over $25K online
- Show teacher-to-admin ratios
- Track consultant spending by category
-
Invest in Teachers
- Competitive salaries to attract and retain great teachers
- Classroom supply budgets (so teachers stop paying out of pocket)
- Professional development that teachers actually find useful (not generic consultants)
What Parents Can Do Right Now
-
Request the budget
- Email: budget@orangeusd.org
- Ask for: “Full line-item budget, including all consultant contracts and admin salaries”
- It’s public information—they must provide it
-
Attend budget meetings
- Districts hold public budget workshops before adopting the annual budget (usually spring)
- Show up. Ask questions. Demand transparency.
-
Track consultant spending
- Board agendas list new contracts
- Note which consultants get hired and for how much
- Ask: “What did we get for this money?”
-
Speak at board meetings
- Public comment: “I’m asking the board to adopt a Classrooms First budget policy and freeze administrative hiring.”
- Bring specific examples (consultant contracts, admin growth)
The Bottom Line
Every dollar not spent in the classroom is a dollar wasted.
Orange students deserve:
- ✅ More teachers, not more administrators
- ✅ Updated textbooks and materials, not consultant reports gathering dust
- ✅ Smaller class sizes, not bloated central office budgets
- ✅ Transparency in spending, not hidden line items
If Orange USD can afford consultants, it can afford to fully fund classrooms.
It’s time to make that choice.
Sources & Next Steps
- Orange USD Budget (Current Year) - Review actual spending
- California School Dashboard - Fiscal - Compare district spending
- EdSource: School Spending Trends - Analysis of CA district budgets
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Resumen en español:
El presupuesto de Orange USD debe priorizar el gasto directo en el aula: maestros, libros de texto y materiales, no gastos administrativos y consultores externos. Al menos el 60% del presupuesto debe ir directamente a las aulas. Los contratos de consultores superiores a $50,000 deben requerir justificación pública y resultados medibles. Congelar la contratación administrativa y auditar los puestos actuales. Crear un panel de presupuesto transparente que muestre todos los contratos, proporciones de maestros a administradores, y gastos de consultores. Invertir en maestros con salarios competitivos, presupuestos para suministros de aula, y desarrollo profesional útil. Los padres deben solicitar el presupuesto completo, asistir a reuniones presupuestarias, rastrear gastos de consultores, y hablar en reuniones de la junta exigiendo transparencia.