This document is not only important to a superintendent, but it could also be useful to any school district administrator. This whole section on the budget made me realize that the fundamental nature of any budget should be derived from the goals established. The goals are defined to insure that the districts allocate money to fulfill student needs. The budget is not only a page with numbers representative of different categories. It is a document that is prepared carefully and meticulously taking into consideration the goals set forth by the Board of Trustees. There are also several legal components that have to be considered. The district has to guarantee that it adheres to all federal guidelines, or it stands to lose funding. One example of this would be federal funding for special education. If a district does not continuously meet the previous year’s Maintenance of Effort (MOE) for special education, it may have to refund some of the federal dollars it received.
This document also made me realize that making budget projections is no game. A district cannot spend more revenue than it receives. It is important to accurately make predictions of student projections and taxable values. If these components are inaccurate, the entire district’s budget is at risk. It is also important for a district to periodically monitor the budget to substantiate whether the dollars are being spent effectively.
It is essential that the superintendent and the leadership team be knowledgeable of the TEA Budgeting Guidelines, published January, 2010. Without this knowledge, vast errors are eminent, and the superintendent could be at risk of losing his/her job. I know more now than I have ever know about a budget. This information will definitely be used in my current job as Director of Special Education.
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