Superintendent's Role in the Budgeting Process

     I was finally able to set an appointment with the Superintendent for an interview regarding his responsibilities in the budgeting process.  Our Superintendent stated that while he and his staff prepare the budget for the following year they start with the end in mind.  Before the budget is prepared our Superintendent focuses on key areas. They are personnel, teacher/student ratio, all-staff/student ratio, administrative cost and the monitoring system.  He went on and explained that personnel takes up about eighty percent of the budget and that is why he makes staffing issues a priority. He stated he works closely with the board of trustees while he develops the budget but their job was to monitor and make recommendations.  He said that he works closely with principals and central office personnel to determine how the budget will be developed for the following school year.  He stated that monitoring the budget on a monthly basis was very important; the district needs to makes sure that expenditures are not greater than revenues.  Personally, I believe our Superintendent, central office personnel, principals and members of the board have done an excellent job with our budget.  While many schools in the State are releasing staff and cutting programs our district has not released any teacher and no cuts have been made to any program.  They have taken care of tax payer’s money and have found ways to save and not over spend money in our District.  Our Superintendent stated that everybody involved in the budget process is important but that the District Manager and Accountant were his key players in the process.