I had the opportunity to interview my district’s superintendent to find out what current practices are in place to help facilitate stakeholder involvement in the development of the budget. Each area is summarized below:
Ø Central Staff
o Cabinet—we constantly discuss finance on an ongoing basis (year round). The CFO is on my cabinet.
Ø CFO
o He knows the budget backwards and forwards. I ask him any questions I have. I have told him that he must tell me both the good and the bad news and he must tell me “no” when necessary.
Ø Principals
o Indirectly through their development of the campus budget
Ø Site Based Committees
o Development of campus budget
o Development of campus goals to support district goals
Ø District Improvement Committee
o Development of district goals
Ø Teacher Organizations
o None at this time
Ø Key Stakeholders
o Required budget approval town hall meetings and hearings
Ø Board of Trustees
o I give the board options and we work together on what the priorities of the district will be for the next year.
Reaction/Reflection:
Considering that I have worked as a campus principal for the past six years, I was not really surprised by any of the superintendent’s responses. I am very familiar with her consistent use of the superintendent’s cabinet. She relies heavily on their expertise and knowledge in each area, including facilities, personnel, finance, student services and curriculum. I am eager to learn more about how she utilizes board workshops and trainings to educate the board members about the district budget.
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