Budget Defense

The Budgeting
Process
• According to the Access Group, “While
there are several steps to the school
budgeting process, they fall broadly
into four stages: review, planning,
forecasting, and
implementation/evaluation” (The Four
Critical Stages of the School Budgeting
Process). At the center of the
budgeting process is stakeholder
consultation and approval. This can be
handled by sending out needs
assessment surveys, goal setting via
the (SIP), analyzing data, and review
and analysis of past budgets and data.
 The Importance of the
Needs Assessment Survey
• The needs assessment survey allows us to receive the input of all stakeholders
in order to make fiscal decisions. We want our stakeholders to be involved in
our budgeting process from top to bottom so that they can make sure that
needs are being met and that any unjustifiable expenses can be trimmed in
order to free up more funds to allocate to other areas of need. It is through
the needs assessment survey that specifics are addressed and that we can see
areas of strength and areas for improvement.
How the use of Data Shapes Us
• In conjunction with the needs assessment survey, we also use the
prior data from the previous data to see what needs to be trimmed
and what we need to add to our budget in order to achieve the best
outcome for our students. Additionally, we use our prior year’s SIP to
make adjustment to the budgets as necessary when it comes to use
of instructional technology, testing data, supplemental materials for
instruction and supplies.
 Sales

Major
Budget
Components Basic Ed Services
Indirect Allocations
Extracurricular Activities
GATE program
Career and Technology Education
Bilingual Education/SLP
 Staff Technology and student
resources
• According to an article by Maduakolam Ireh, “Computers and other
peripherals, particularly, require large expenditures every three to five
years, and requirement not usually considered for education planning and
budgeting” (Budgeting and Funding School Technology) The ultimate goal
is to increase student achievement, and because of this, the budget for
staff and student technology, which includes not only updated technology
in order for staff to go 1:1, but also so that we can provide teachers and
students with educational programs to supplement instruction. Depending
on enrollment numbers budget cuts will occur in extracurricular activities in
order to supplement our technology budget.
 Staffing budget

We have not elected to release staff in lieu of our fiduciary budget

cuts. Instead, the alternative would be to eliminate a course that isn’t
contributing to our school grade or testing data. We can then allocate
those hours to a different course or elective, and then have that
teacher provide push-in support. The cuts to supplement the teaching
salary that we are choosing not to eliminate will come from
extracurricular activities and basic educational services.
Promoting Continuous Improvement

• One of the ways that we support promoting continuous improvement

on our campus is by making sure our budget supports our SMART
goals regarding student achievement, teacher retention, and student
matriculation. As our goals change and shift to meet the needs of our
faculty, staff, and students, our budget needs to fluctuate to support
that. Much like our goals support continuous improvement, our
budget is continuously improving.
Promoting Continuous Improvement

• One of the ways that we also budget in order to achieve

the goals of our continuous improvement plan is to make
sure that our budget allocations get the most significant
return on investment. Not only do our allocations and cuts
need to support our school’ s mission and vision, they
also need address multiple needs and support our SIP
goals.
Fiscal, Human, and Tech Resources
• The plan for this budget
cut will not only allow us
to pour the 10% back into
our school community to
address the needs of
students, but by
redistributing our
resources and teaching
support to another area
of need we can reallocate
the funding to provide
tech resources to
students, faculty, and staff
Mobilization
of
Community
Resources
According to the Institute for Educational Leadership, “In order to have the most positive
impact on the academic and wellness outcomes of the students, it is imperative that
schools and communities work together through a collaborative and comprehensive
approach. This budget readjustment will require the support of school and community
stakeholders, as well as a community liaison to keep the community abreast of the ways
in which we are reassessing the needs of students. Additionally, we need to be able to
be transparent about where the redistribution of allocated funding is affecting students
most, and we need to communicate the clear goals and expectations for this 10%
redistribution of funds.

Additionally, According to Smart School Budgeting: Resources for Districts, “effectively

articulating proposed changes is an opportunity to build consensus and demonstrate
thoroughness in the process that led to the recommended action” (n.d.)
How does the
plan advocate
for student
needs?
 Advocating for Student
Needs
The plan to eliminate hours instead of the teaching position to free up 10% of
our budget will not only provide additional support to struggling students, but
will also ensure that they get access to the technology, materials and supplies
that they need and deserve. The return of investment should be high, as the
use of instructional technology should contribute to the culture of
achievement. Additionally, by not choosing to eliminate a teaching position,
we keep a familiar face to students and our teacher retention rate stays high (a
SIP goal)
 Resources
Ireh, M. (2010, August 31). Budgeting and funding SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY: Essential Considerations. School
Business Affairs. Retrieved September 23, 2021, from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ914657.

Institute for Educational Leadership. Nine Elements of Effective School Community Partnerships to Address
Student Mental Health, Physical Health, and Overall Wellness. National Association of School Psychologists.
n.d.

Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy. (October 2012). Smart School Budgeting: Resources for
Districts. Cambridge, MA: Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy.