Goal+Driven+Budget

 In the Week 2 Lecture for EDLD 5342 – School Finance, Dr. Elvis Arterbury states “the purpose of a goal driven budget is to assist in the attainment of a shared vision for the school district and each campus” (EDLD 5342, Week 2 Lecture Notes, page 1). Dr. Bob Thompson is known for using the phrase, “their money, their kids, their district - you are simple hired to manage it for them” (EDLD 5371, Week 1 Lecture Notes, page1).These two quotes taken together form the foundation for the definition of a goal driven budget.  School superintendents are charged with working with the Board of Trustees and members of the community in setting annual goals for the district. These goals are established to ensure that the district is heading in the right direction and that every stakeholder understands the objectives of the district. District goals are put into action through the District Improvement plan that guides in the improvement process. District Improvement Plans are developed by gaining input from central office personnel, campus principals, parents, community members, and representatives from the business community. Individual campuses are also charged with setting goals that take the form of the performance indicators that are established as a result campus level needs assessments. This process allows members of each of these groups to provide important input about needs that exist, thus leading to the development of a goal driven budget. Goal Driven Budgets are the backbone of the improvement process. Goals are written with input from various stakeholders, the District Improvement Plan guides the strategies needed to achieve the goals, and a goal driven budget provides the funding necessary to put the strategies included in the plan into action. The improvement needs of the district are foremost in the goal driven budget.  The Giddings I.S.D. District Improvement Plan makes many references to the SMART Goals Process. This process has identified math as the “Greatest Area of Need” in the district. The district is “committed to students performing at the highest academic levels in the area of math,” and achieving a 90% passing rate on TAKS Math for all students and each subgroup (Giddings I.S.D. District Improvement Plan, 2010-2011, page 3). There are many actions in the plan related to the improvement of math in the district. Those actions include: providing two math instructional specialists for the district, purchasing and implementing CSCOPE Curriculum for the improvement of the district math curriculum, and professional development for district math teachers on best practices for teaching the math curriculum. Each of these items required a substantial monetary commitment by the district. The math specialists cost the district approximately $90,000 per school year, CSCOPE costs approximately $25,000 per school year, and the district spent approximately $5,000 for travel, substitutes, and fees related to professional development in math. This is a good example of a goal driven budget item. -Lee
 * EDLD 5342: Week 2 Part 1 - Goal Driven Budget **