It is a comprehensive plan, with over 300 pages of information. It starts with financial awards and documentation of excellence. Then it shares an executive plan, who is on the School Board, how decisions are made, what the mission/vision is and how the budget is established based on that. It also outlines district-wide FTE and student enrollment numbers, demographic overview, programs and services, personnel trends, budget development process and funds overviews ("2018-2019 Proposed Budget," pg. 5, 2018).
Next, it outlines the organization section. In this section, there is a profile of the government, budget decisions shaped by goals, budget development and timelines, type and description of funds, and a strategic plan.
Further in the document, it entails school district organizational structures and operating departments. Then it lists every school in the district in its own section, a financial section, special revenue funds, debt service funds, capital project funds, internal service funds, feduciary funds, and an informational section.
Outside sources for input include tax payers as we have several mill levies and bond measures that our district has passed in the past or will hope to pass in the future. Additionally, we have the State of Colorado and governor policies that inform some of the budgeting requirements and considerations in our district.
This document seems extremely comprehensive. One area that I would give a recommendation is that each school be given special consideration for funds per their individual needs, programs, and demographics, vs. a one-size-fits all model for district funded school programming and infrastructure.
Reference
2018-2019 Proposed Budget (Rep.). (2018). Retrieved September 26, 2018, from Boulder Valley School District website: https://www.bvsd.org/businessservices/Budget/Proposed Budgets/2018-19 Proposed Budget Book.pdf
Liz,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post and citation. You've discovered and described a most comprehensive budget policy for your district. I can just see the teachers "glazing over" when they read such a document. Our "hats-off" to you for taking the time to read and analyze this.
Two questions? One, how is this policy kept current in the ever-changing school budget world? Two, how will you, as a school leader, simplify this policy so that it can be useful to you own school's budget practices?
Thanks again for sharing!
Dr. Brown
Great questions!
Delete1: there is a Chief Financial Officer, and a whole dept at our district office devoted to attending to this policy development and maintenance in our district.
2: I think it's important to use the mission/vision of a school to drive everything, including budget.
Thanks Liz! Good thoughts!
DeleteDr. Brown
Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting such a great post with detailed understanding of your schools' budget. As you look through this budget, do you ever feel this would be overwhelming for parents? You are completely right that the budget needs to be adjusted to know what each school is spending it on. I wonder if that is something that could happen to help lessen the burden of the budget on the community and help the community know what is needed for each program or club.
Brooke
Yes, this is overwhelming to me! I think the site administrator of a building has a task of narrowing the language and information provided to be specific to the kids, families, and programming accessible on-sight, absolutely!
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