EDLD Week 2 - Part 5

During my interview with the Superintendent, we had the opportunity to discuss how various stakeholders have an opportunity to provide input into the development of the district budget. Following is the information I received:

Ø  Central Office Administrators and Staff-   Central Office personnel have the opportunity to provide input into the district budget by submitting their department budget to the Chief Financial Officer. Departmental budgets are developed in March and April and must include the cost, rationale and the budget code that will be used for the expenditures. Special projects are also submitted at this time for review.  The finance office provided departments with past budgets to use as a guide but amounts vary from year to year as costs and contracts change.

Ø  Principals- Principals work with campus staff to review expenditures and request budget allocations for the upcoming school year based on needs and goals.  These requests along with staffing requests are submitted to the CFO for the Superintendent’s Cabinet to review.

Ø  Site Based Decision Making Committees-  Site based teams meet and formulate campus goals that lead to budget development. In addition, sites based teams review allocations and assist the principal in allocating funds such as Title 1, State Compensatory funds and other revenue.  These teams help to drive the control of the budget down to the classroom level.

Ø  District Improvement Committee- The district committee develops goals for the district and makes recommendations to the Asst. Supt of Instructional Services that are submitted to the Superintendent’s Cabinet for review and implementation.

Ø  Teacher Organizations- Our district does not have active teacher organizations that provide input. Opinions from these groups would be welcomed but have not been heard at this time.

Ø  Key Stakeholders- Stakeholders give input through strategic planning committees and in town hall meetings. Input from these individuals may also be given throughout the school year in open forum at the board meetings.



Sheldon I.S.D. Board of Trustees

Ø  Board of Trustees- The superintendent listens to the goals of the Board of Trustees. She then gives them options that they can consider. Last year she took a variety of options to them for budget reduction that would allow the district to work within the parameters of the budget reduction. The school board decided not to cut programs or staff. Instead travel and other costs were reduced.

When one looks at the intricacies associated with the development of the budget, it is easy to see that this is a group project. It is important to listen to the opinions of others and align the budget to the goals of the district.  The superintendent depends on the knowledge base and perspective of numerous people when developing the school district’s budget. These perspectives allow her to see the whole picture while keeping a keen eye on special needs.  Strong community relations and communications skills are an asset to any superintendent when developing budgets in the financial times we are currently experiencing.