Criteria List for the Budget Process

Dear Community,
 
Here is a little insight into the budget process. We have criteria to guide reductions and strategies to help us move forward successfully. We came up with these ideas as a team, with principals, union leaders, a couple School Board members,and DO staff brainstorming earlier this week.
 
Thanks!
 

Budget Reduction Criteria

6-18-2024 Criteria Development Meeting

Criteria

  • Maintain core academic programs

  • Legal compliance

  • Contract compliance

  • Equitable

  • Preserve school safety for students and staff

  • Good for students and staff

Cost Considerations

  • Considering the long-term impacts of any changes

  • Savings no matter how small

  • Maintain enrollment

Strategic Suggestions

  • Reexamine programs with an eye to marketing for student retention.

  • Create balance to ensure the remaining staff receive care and aren’t overburdened with furloughs and reductions.

  • Evaluate key resources (obtain critical feedback from Licensed staff on how to run classes, such as what they need for core functions in terms of technology, tools, resources, assessment materials, and curriculum).

  • Review transportation boundaries, which could be altered to create savings. (This may be done with the transportation plan analysis.)

  • Spend strategically: 

    • Streamline systems and procedures for savings, such as ordering supplies in bulk.

    • Consider energy costs and general sustainability for buildings.

    • Consider substitute costs (agency hire v. district pool).

  • Specialist Strategies

    • Cross-train staff (for example, if you lose a specialist, you can save by training an internal staff member to step into the role).

    • Share specialists among buildings and identify job requirements or seek job-sharing opportunities.

  • Ensure that impacts on staff and students are articulated and understood.

  • Create true ratios for elementary and secondary staffing and review historical ratios.

  • Make data-driven decisions.

  • Conduct calendar audits.

  • Ensure a decision aligns with the strategic integrated plan goals.

  • Analyze costs with attention to compliance. Is it needed or just nice? (e.g., busing for after-school programs)

  • Review past cuts this spring for legality. Look at ELL and SPED.

  • Continue exit survey of families who are leaving the district.