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Superintendent's Budget Update: May 2012
Planning for the 2012-13 budget is underway now that the Legislature has finalized the state budget. Unlike many districts that will have to cut millions of dollars from their budgets again, we are expecting moderate adjustments to the budget, programs and services for the coming year. This is a result of conservative spending, operational efficiencies and sustainable reductions in expenditures over the past three years along with conservative student enrollment projections.
SUPERINTENDENT’S BUDGET MESSAGE
Over the past 3 years the District has made over $10 million in cuts to the general fund budget. We have worked hard to preserve funding for teaching and learning, making strategic cuts and reductions in operations and support services. The magnitude of the state deficit, reductions in education funding and in salaries for all state workers pose additional challenges to protecting the classroom.
The District’s conservative approach to budget and finance and strong oversight by our School Board will ensure we are fiscally sound, despite reductions in state funding. The people who make up the Sumner School District have a long tradition of doing the right thing. During these turbulent economic times we will continue to do the right thing for students and remain committed to our primary mission of teaching and learning.
We have developed a budget using a philosophy that supports the primary mission of the District. We will monitor revenues and expenditures throughout the budget year and make changes as necessary to meet the budget goals we have established.
Craig Spencer, Superintendent
Sumner School District 2011-12 Budget Goals
- Prioritize and support all services identified as essential to the K-12 education program.
- Provide adequate funds to revitalize professional development programs for teachers.
- Provide sufficient resources for teaching and learning.
- Increase funding for technology.
- Work to increase efficiency of non-instructional district operations.
- Maintain undersigned, unreserved fund balance of 5% of budgeted expenditures as required by Board policy.
 2011-12 Budget
Enrollment Information
General Fund Information
Budget Development Process and
Philosophy for Budget Decisions
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Guiding Principles for Budget Reductions |
Philosophy
The Superintendent and cabinet have developed a philosophy to adopt a budget that supports the primary mission of the District
and results in savings that:
Decision Process
School Board: The Board of Directors formally adopts the District budget.
Budget Team
Superintendent, Principals, Administrators and Directors: Prepare budget documents and make recommendations to the School Board.
Budget Advisory Committee
Community, District Employees, Students serve in an advisory capacity to the Budget Team and Superintendent.
How to Make It All Work
Staff and community members may provide feedback on possible impacts of budget decisions.
Once decisions are made, they will be communicated to staff. Implementation of these decisions will be achieved through collaborative work.
 Input & Ideas
Feedback & Possible Impacts
Decisions & Adoption and Implementation
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The first level of budget reduction analysis begins after base quality has been established.
What constitutes the “base quality education level” that the district is unwilling to go below? What are the “essential support services” required to effectively deliver a quality educational program? Does our strategic plan support the base quality identified?
The next level of budget reductions is based on the effectiveness of specific programs or services.
What programs are not achieving the desired results? Do we have data available on program effectiveness? If not, an evaluation process will need to be implemented.
All school programs and support services will be judged by determining impact upon the district’s base quality educational program and support of approved school district policies.
What are the programs benefits in terms of the base quality educational plan for the district?
Cabinet will conduct a thorough review of all Board policies to ascertain if the policies support the approved “Base Quality” definition.
A review team will be established to look for the hidden costs or issues.
Budget reduction proposals must be targeted to real, achievable ends.
Each budget reductions proposal should indicate the amount saved. Do the savings also impact revenue?
A budget cut, recommended to the Board by the review process, can be omitted only if another budget cut of similar dollar amount is substituted.
Across the board cuts or percentage cuts will not be instituted.
Key stakeholders will be involved in the budget reduction process.
A communication plan will be developed to keep all school district employees and the community at large informed about every step in the budget reduction process.
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Mission
We believe it is our responsibility to ensure
the best education for all of our students.
We believe in success for students and staff every day.
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