Stakeholder Input - Budgeting Process

There are several people involved with the budgetary process at Lumberton Independent School District, all with different roles and responsibilities. While interviewing the Superintendent and his role regarding the budget process, he explained how other entities can offer valuable insight for the budget process.

Central Office Administrators and Staff

            Various people from Central Office can have valuable input into the budget process. The district technology coordinator visits all campuses and discusses with the principal and campus technology specialist about the upcoming school year needs and regarding the renewals of various technology programs. The Special Programs coordinator searches to find ways of increasing budgetary allocations through weighted funding and works alongside the PEIMS management person for the district.

Principals

            Principals are responsible for working with their campus improvement planning teams in identify the needs of the campus and formulating these needs into aligned campus goals. These goals need to be supported by budgetary allocations to successfully achieve the desired results. The principals need to be mindful of their responsibility in being an effective manager of the school funds while they are fulfilling the role of campus leader.

Campus Site Base Teams

            Campus site base decision making teams are important in developing collaborative plans for the campuses and offer support and advice in achieving the goals of the campus. The team must understand their role, as well as knowing they are the ones who represent all employees on the campus. The teachers, custodians, cafeteria employees, business leaders, and parents all come together to discuss the needs of the students and what resources are required to accomplish those needs. This collaborative structure is effective in understanding other viewpoints regarding the campus.

District Site Base Teams

            District site base teams work together to offer support and advice to the board for creating the district goals, as well as offer advice to current concerns the school district is faced with (i.e. bullying issues). These ideas are given to the Superintendent and board of trustees to identify funding resources to address the issues.

Teacher Organizations and Key Stakeholders

            In the district, teacher organizations and various stakeholders meet and offer information to the Superintendent and board of trustees through the board appointed liaison committee. This information is collected, and shows the school district is willing to listen to all stakeholders within the district. The ideas and concerns that are brought forth to the committee are used in the creation of the board adopted goals and thus budgetary allocations are appropriated to support the goals.

Board of Trustees

            The boards of trustees are the final stage in the adoption of a school budget. According to Dr. Danny Lovett, Region V Executive Director, It is important to first and foremost remember that the “power and responsibility of the board is to maintain the ownership of the school, the kids, and the money.” In order to not get into the areas of governance, the board must remember their roles; however, they are important with offering advice in the budgetary process. It is effective the Superintendent works alongside the school board, and truly involves their roles as the “Team of 8.”