EDLD 5342: Additional Stakeholder Input in the Budgeting Process

Additional Stakeholder Input in the Budgeting Process-

Ø  Central Office Administrators and Staff

o   These key individuals will provide input regarding the budget specific to their program(s).    They will submit their budget, along with budget codes, to the CFO for review.

Ø  Principals

o   Principals guide the budget setting process at their campus.  They are responsible for the creation of a campus improvement plan (CIP) that should guide the budgeting process.  The body which creates the CIP is the SBDM (site-based decision making committee); however, the responsibility of the task lies with the principal.  The budget and CIP must be turned in to the Senior Director of Academic Support who will send the documents to the Superintendent and CFO for approval.

Ø  Site Based Decision Making (SBDM) Committees

o   These committees should exist at every campus.  According to Education Code 11.253(e),” the campus-level committee shall be involved in decisions in the areas of planning, budgeting, curriculum, staffing patterns, staff development, and school organization. “

Ø  District Improvement Committee

o   This body reviews the BOT (Board of Trustees) goals and works to make goals for the district.  These goals are reviewed by the Superintendent and her Cabinet) to fashion the District Improvement Plan (DIP).

Ø  Teacher Organizations

o   Members of several teacher organizations are members both in campus SBDMs and the District Improvement Committee.  They represent their organization through these activities.

Ø  Key Stakeholders

o   These individuals are involved in the goal setting and budgeting process through site based decision making as well as the district improvement committee.  Additionally, Town Hall meetings are held to inform key stakeholders.

Ø  Board of Trustees

o   The BOT creates the goals for the district.  Once these goals are created, the Superintendent listens to the Board goals.  The Superintendent works with the Board finalize the budget for the district, giving several budgeting options.  The BOT and the Superintendent work together to finalize the district budget and include additional district professionals when input is needed.

Upon speaking to the Superintendent about the budgeting process, one can begin to see that the process must include key stakeholders from throughout the district community to ensure all goals are included and funded in the district budget.  Additionally, the budgeting process is not a once a year endeavor.  It is a back and forth process between several organizations within the district and evolves over the year before its adoption.  Tis process is even more critical in times when the budget is projected to vary greatly from one year to the next.  My district has relied heavily on this process of involving many key stakeholders in the budgeting process to ensure communication of a decreasing budget and providing a reason why the district must make budget cuts.