Stakeholder Input for Budget

After talking to my site-supervisor, listening to the lecture, and reading my readings I have found that input from all sources is very beneficial.  Each part of a school district can bring different aspects to the budgeting process and is needed in order to prepare an effective budget. Each office, committee, and stakeholder not only needs to have input, they must all have an active role in the process in order for the Superintendent to prepare the best possible budget.

The central office administrators and staff can input on the many aspects of the budget.  It’s important to have this input to ensure that monies are set aside for salaries, professional development, supplies and resources.  All of these expenses need to be taken into consideration to effectively plan.  Giving them ownership in this process is crucial for the Superintendent, so they can have everyone using a “team” concept I this process.

The principals input, in my opinion, are the most crucial in ensuring a strong academic program that allows all students to be successful.  Not only do they have the programs that are needed for their campus, they also get input from teachers, parents, community members, and other staff to ensure that they are funded appropriately.  When principals and the Superintendent are working together with this they in turn can provide for their campuses in the best possible manner.  The principals have the most interaction within this area and are better suited in giving input about the everyday academic processes that they use.  They also work with the improvement teams, the teacher organizations, and most stakeholders on a day to day basis and will have knowledge and information from these other stakeholders.

It seems as if the Improvement teams, the teacher organizations and the site based teams all have the same goals of finding out what needs are needed for the district.  They also formulate ways to improve all aspects of the academics within the district and can provide relevant information when it comes to creating a budget.  It is imperative that all of these groups work together in trying to reach the same goals set out by the board of trustees.  When all of the particular groups work together, in order to achieve these goals, then a positive budget that is goal driven will be accomplished.  When a goal driven budget is accomplished then the entire district has been successful and will ultimately achieve their goals they have set out.  

Finally, the board of trustees set out particular goals for the district and the Superintendent must coordinate and ensure that these goals are met.  The Superintendent has a daunting task in accomplishing this, but with the proper communication channels and planning procedures it can be done.  When each stakeholder works together, with the same goals in mind this process can be very difficult and detailed, but will ultimately work out for the best interest of the district.