EDLD Week 5 Final Reflection

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This course has introduced me to the scope of school finance. The lectures reiterated the importance of goal driven budgets and the assignments reinforced this idea. Through the assignments and the work with my wiki group I realize that there are numerous resources one can turn to in order to locate information. Whether it be a colleague in another district or the TEA website the resources are available and should be referenced when needed.

The assignments that utilized the summary of finance pages from different districts were the most interesting and at times the most challenging. It became very clear that a superintendent should do his research before entering a district blindly. The fund balance, current debt and other information could be invaluable to a superintendent’s entry plan.

As a future superintendent, I realize how important it is to build a strong administrative team that is willing to disagree with you when necessary. These team members can bring a plethora of ideas and knowledge to the table that may allow alternative solutions to problems that the superintendent may not have considered. A competent Chief Financial Officer is of paramount importance to this team. In the world of high stakes testing it is easy to overlook this l role but it is crucial if a district is to be competitive.

 


The process of developing consistent procedures and proper checks and balances was definitely reinforced during the week 5 part 1 exercise on the Code of Ethics. This is something that I will carry with me. Reviewing written policies is another task that a new superintendent must undertake if they are to be successful. Not only must they become familiar with the policies they must ensure that the Board of Trustees is familiar with them also. In conclusion, this course has been both challenging and informative. I am sure that I have much more to learn but now have a foundation to build upon.