Reflection

Learning about budget and school finance has been a huge learning curve for me.  I realized that there was a lot to learn when it came to school finance and the importance of running a school, however; upon further investigation, I recognize that one of the most important aspects to school finance is having a strong team around you that can support you and guide you in the decision making process.  IN smaller districts, funds are most likely limited, however; in the larger systems, it is key to hire well in all aspects of the system.

      After completing this assignment, I recognize that talking about planning for a budget is just like vertically aligning curriculum teams with in a school.  Everyone has to play his or her role well and be knowledgeable of the work that must be done in order to adequately run the budget well.  I think the thing that stood out to me the most was that it would be crucial for leaders to communicate their vision and expectations to all stakeholders in order for leaders to effectively run their part of the school budget and do their responsibilities well.  Beginning at the school level, principals and site based decision-making teams must work together to help the board and superintendent reach their goals.  Ultimately, this cannot happen if the superintendent is not clear in his message to those below him.  They must know his vision, purpose, priorities, and have experience or training in allocating funds and analyzing data.   In addition to all of these things, campus leadership must be trained to be ambassadors to their leadership groups in and be able to be the carriers of messages that support the board vision and the instructional vision of the superintendent.

      At the central level, central office, district improvement teams, and teacher organizations must also have a clear understanding of the vision of the system, why and how money is allocated, where needs in the system are and how they can be addressed, and be creative in the process of problem solving.  It is also crucial that central office personnel understand how to diagnose and treat issues within the system in creative yet financially responsible ways.  They must be able to clearly communicate action plans and help to enforce those action plans when necessary.  In addition, central office can help to play the liaison between teacher organizations to help them to understand and advocate for the district and teacher.  A clear message about the financial decisions will keep all constituents happy and supportive.

      The board really serves as the final decision maker as well as the peacekeeper in times of change and struggles.  There needs to be a significant amount of trust given to board members from the community and schools that they are going to work in conjunctions with the superintendent to make decisions that will positively impact all students, teachers, parents, and community members.  In times like we are in now, money is not always available and it is crucial that we have a board who is financially savvy and that trusts the leaders under them to help guide the work that they are doing.

      In conclusion, a financially smart system is one that has the following components; 1.  A superintendent who understands and leads well; 2.  A board of trustees who understands their community and puts faith in the system; 3.  Leaders within the system who are effective communicators and who understand how to be financially responsible; 4.  A system built upon positive relationships.