School Finance Week 2 Assignment Part 1

Upon review of the video lecture and other select readings it is evident that a goal driven budget is essential to a fiscally sound school district.  A goal driven budget provides all members of the learning community with consistency and balance as it pertains to effectively managing a complex funding system.  If I were to define this type of budget the hallmark of its explanation would focus on specific expectations and achievements for the budget. 

Utilizing the district’s specific goals developed by the board of trustees will ensure efficient use of public funds.  For a budget to be goal driven it must have practical and attainable goals.  The aforementioned goals must be developed using information gathered from a variety of resources.  Other than the raw data like: student enrollment, student needs, and student teacher ratios; focus should also be placed on the state/federally mandated programs, courses, and requirements for today’s school districts.   Ideally the board of trustees’ goals would institute the vision or direction for the district improvement committee and campus improvement committees as they create the improvement plans based on these goals. The improvement plans would ensure buy in from key stakeholders and be the conduit for funding programs and necessary district and campus allocations.  Once the plans are established, then consistent review and monitoring of expenditures is vital.  During the lecture interview Dr. Arterbury said, “The district and campus goals should reflect the Board goals and the budgeting process should reflect a commitment to expending funds to achieve those goals. That would result in a goal driven budget.”  As superintendent is it necessary to encourage as well and enforce the fact that goal alignment is essential to every portion of the organization as well as the financial aspects. 

It was observed during the review of the district improvement plan that many of our goals objectives seemed to indicate our district is goal driven in terms of its budget.  Our community and parent involvement goals placed focus on supporting the district website, partnerships with the local state college, funding our supervised agricultural experience farm for our Career and Technical Education students.  The plan specifically addressed dollar amounts allocated to the detailed initiatives listed above.  The funding was directed coupled to the district goal.  Also the district goal tied to staff development addressed the objectives set forth by the board of trustees.  The goal objectives were: increase and provide quality technology training to improve instruction, provide instructors with strategies related to education of special needs children, and continuing to provide services through web-based teacher programs and library databases.  The plan provided dollar amounts to address these goals and objectives for successful implementation.  The plan is consistently reviewed by the district improvement committee, administration, and board of trustees.