Budget and Resource Management
The volatile economic climate can be difficult to overcome for any institution and the school system is certainly not immune. In looking closely at the budget and resources of my school this past year, I have become keenly aware and more thoughtful in this department. Managing budgets and resources is extremely important in being an attentive and proactive leader of a school.
Building Tour: Getting to
Know the Staff
Mentor Interview: Understanding the School Budget
Classroom Budgets
When allocating school funds for classroom budgets, or any line item for that matter, it is important to know where the money is coming from and how spending is affecting student achievement. Most of the financial resources for classrooms originates from delegated funds. Additional monies and resources may come from community resources and grants. Because our school is 40% economically disadvantaged, one thing our building principal tries to do is budget most supplies out of building funding; like pencils, paper, markers, scissors, rulers, etc. This limits the burden placed on parents and teachers to supply their student and classroom needs. Another approach he uses it to ask the teachers to prioritize their classroom needs. In this way, all of the necessary items are purchased and a few of the want and would-love-to-have items are bought depending on the yearly budget.
Project: Comparing District Budgets
Priority
Sheet
When conferencing with my building mentor, I identified some important ideas to remember:
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The school budget should reflect the goal of improving student learning and achievement
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Have a good understanding of which budget can be used for specific purposes and be aware of deadlines for spending
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Get the most out of your money, in other words, buy in bulk or local when financially sound, shop around for the best deals, and partner with community groups or other schools in order to get the most value for the lowest price
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Inform your stakeholders
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Always be on the lookout for community businesses to develop relationships with that could be beneficial for both of you
In addition to reading a great resource for any building administrator, School Management by Wandering Around, walking throughout the building and having meaningful conversations with staff was invaluable in learning abut working relationships.
Just a few of the takeaways I've learned from getting to know the staff during "wandering around" include:
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We learn from each other. That can't and won't happen when an administrator manages from behind closed doors. For example, I learned a tremendous amount about the most efficient and effective ways to clean the lunchroom from the school custodian. Additionally, he learned a little more about some trends in sickness being observed in recent absences. This shared information during a 15 minute conversation helps both of us do our job better and builds a positive, collaborative relationship.
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Be a proactive leader. During one particular "walk-through" I learned that the side door was not working properly in that it was locking/unlocking during incorrect times. Left unnoticed or unattended, this could have led to serious consequences but being present and available, you build relational trust; an opportunity to listen to ideas, to collect information, and to resolve problems.
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Follow through. Being present alone won't ensure trust or automatically build relationships. You must be genuine and want to truly serve your staff. You have to commit to following up on people's concerns and to seeking continuous improvement. What you do after MBWA is every bit as important.
Mission Valley Elementary Staff
