Superintendents Role in Budgeting Process

Although the budget process can be very time consuming, it is critical for school superintendents to ensure that they maximize all available resources and eliminate unnecessary costly ones that are may be outdated and no longer effective. This is important during tough economic times. The effective development of a comprehensive needs assessment and the development of a campus plan will assist school leaders in determining which resources would be cost effective for teachers and ultimately most productive in increasing levels of student achievement.

Effective budget planning should include effective strategies and resources that includes helping all stakeholders throughout the school community understand the need to be proactive, responsive, engaging, and effective in developing the budget.

Superintendents must also consider future enrollment projections in order to adequately prepare for student needs. As the struggle to solve the school finance issue in the state of Texas continues, it is highly important that local school districts find new ways to effectively utilize and maximize all available financial, material, and human resources in order to continue providing a quality education for our children. It seems as if the accountability standards increase, school funding decreases. Educating students of today and tomorrow is going to cost considerably more than in previous years, as there are far greater environmental and social issues that are having a negative impact on student performance in the classroom.