1. Show Me the Money Demetrick Williams – Superintendent Derrick Thompson – Business Administrator Christina Bucci - Principal Caleb Rhodes - Teachers Marie Brinks - Public

2. Superintendent by Demetrick Williams They are in charge of starting the process. They collect all mini budgets from either every school or department. Along with the business administrator, they then review the budgets. After they approve the mini budgets, it is presented to the board for approval. It is presented to the public.

3. Superintendent Recommendations to improve the role in the budget process: Try to keep every one on the same agenda working towards the same goals Try to involve teachers in the process more The current formula that the state uses for funding each district must be changed The structure that is used to tell the wealth of the district is needs to be reviewed The state needs to give full funding

4. Superintendent Recommendations to improve the role of each stakeholder: Have public meetings through the entire process so that the public has a better understanding of each part of the budget Have a full break down of cost for each part of the budget so that the parents can see where all of the money is going Develop new ways of getting the public educated about the school and the budget making process

5. Superintendent Educating the public: By allowing different groups to use the school facilities, they will see the actual condition of the buildings or the fields so they will understand if something comes up in the budget for new facilities Try to run as many programs after school and during the summer months for the elderly. At every one of these events explain to the public that these programs will not be available if everyone does not support the budget. It will also be important to try and give them a break down of cost to run all of the wonderful programs that they like so very much. Ex: programs, cooking, dances, dinners, sewing, computer technology, stock trading, and travel programs Throughout the budget making process, invite the public into give them an update on how the budget is going They would be given all of the mini budgets from each school or department so that they could see where the money is being spent They will be given the facilities budget to compare it with what they got in the summer time. This way they can see all of the numbers right in front of them.

6. Business Administrator by Derrick Thompson Prepare and review process of all school budgets and pupil transportation contracts Review and formulate recommendations for approval of all budgets and cap waivers Assist county superintendent in mediating budgets between district and municipal officials Collect budget information from school principals Provide financial data to the building principals Provide technical assistance to school districts on all aspects of school law and finance

7. Business Administrator Budget Process Similarities between districts 1-2 budgets passed in the past five years; Educators are convinced there is no way to cut taxes

8. Business Administrator Budget Process Variations between districts There is no voting in vocational schools. Health insurance, tuition, public utilities are costs that drive up the budget. In a vocational school major stakeholders are freeholders and county superintendent.

9. Business Administrator Recommendations for improvement: involve the public early in the process have informative meetings to voice issues (very important) create a budget committee (use members who influence others) develop a budget brochure share decision making with everyone implement the district goals by using careful and meaningful management planning

10. Business Administrator Educating the public: An itemized financial report detailing why the increases are necessary will be prepared and distributed to the public How to cut costs without increasing taxes:  Use information technology to reduce manpower needed in activities such as payroll and clerical support  Use internet technology to reduce costs in supplies and textbooks  Standardize building materials such as copy machines. This allows you to buy in large quantities and keep a smaller supply of parts

11. Principal by Christina Bucci Design the budget for the school Uses the budget from the previous year as a guide Asks teachers for needs/wish list Collect individual department budgets Some superintendents create the budget and then pass it down to the principal and the principal has to use it. Implementation of the budget Oversee ordering of supplies

12. Principal Recommendations: Do not allow the public to vote. Allow the public to vote on county and town taxes. Process is too slow. Collaborate and trade services, supplies, and transportation with other principals in the district. Give money to what will find political favor.

13. Principal How to inform the public: Allow the town to use the school facilities for town functions. The principal should be present at town functions outside of the school. Have grandparents day/ family day at the school to bring people in and see a regular school day.

14. Teachers by Caleb Rhodes Limited understanding of the entire budget process Small role in the budget process Requesting items Requesting more money Rarely attend school board meetings Feel the budget process needs to be more defined

15. Teachers Recommendations for improvement: Give teachers a greater role in the process Create committees that meet with Super/BA Be informed about exactly how much money is available If cuts need to be made, teachers should have some input

16. Teachers Recommendations to better educate the public: Discuss the school budget in appropriate classes Have students create a project dealing with the school budget Have students write about the importance of passing the budget and have parents sign the essay

17. Public by Marie Brinks The role of the public is unclear. They do not know how budgets are made. Here were some thoughts. The superintendent takes the previous budget and adjusts it. The Board gathers demographics information and then adjusts the budget. The Board of Education makes the budget and the superintendent approves it. They do not understand which items are the most costly. Guesses included: Technology and books Salaries and pensions Administrative salaries and utilities

18. Public They do not understand where funding comes from. Here were some guesses. State 50%, Local 20%, Federal 30% State 30%, Local 60%, Federal 10% You mean we do not pay it all in taxes. Acronyms remain a mystery to the public. When asked to identify NCLB, IDEA, S1701, and ABBOTT, here were some responses:  What?  I have heard of No Child Left Behind, but I do not really understand it.  I do not know what those are.

19. Public They do not attend school board meetings regularly. Here is why. Too busy Do not care Trust the Board to make the right decisions The Public does vote for School Board members and budgets. Here is why. Vote down the budget Elect friends or family to the Board In a private school, all of the families need to vote. There is no public voting in a voc-tech school; the freeholders pass the budget.

20. Public Summary The Public lacks an understanding of the overall workings of the school system in general and the budgetary process specifically, but this does not stop them from voting in the elections. The question becomes how to educate them. Here are some suggestions

21. Public Educating the public: Get the public into the schools Use district wide email and television programs to show the public what is happening in the district. The superintendent should reach out to the public, educating them about the schools, perhaps through informal teas, luncheons, or coffee houses