Craig Verley

If your school district is not in the throes of finalizing budgets for a new fiscal year that begins July 1, then you will be there shortly after that for a fall budget cycle. When it comes to school district budgets, the headlines I am seeing from across the state are rather dim. This is largely due to a combination of what is known as the ESSER Fiscal Cliff and the inability of our state legislature and governor to use the record 30+ billion-dollar surplus in the last legislative cycle to properly provide funding for public schools. 

With the tightening of the budget belts that seem to be taking place throughout the state, comes the dreaded across-the-board style budget cuts to virtually all areas of operation. If your budget is anything like mine was, operations were already running pretty tight with very little, if any, real wiggle room.

If you have not already been doing so, the time has probably come for you to take some time and document what the district and community are getting for their money spent within your department. Their bang for their buck, as it were. Think about the projects, events, programs, advertising/marketing, positive news coverage, outreach efforts; and everything your department does in support of students and the district. Where you can use data to show results. Also, see if you can also show how inflation has resulted in additional costs to just conduct the regular course of business.

If you are being asked to trim your budget for the coming fiscal year, and it will have an impact that will affect the district negatively; take note of those areas. I am not talking about things like computer or equipment purchases that realistically could wait another year…unless things are being held together with bubble gum and duct tape. Will you realistically have enough money for the mandatory recognition awards and events? These could be things like service awards, teacher of the year awards, student recognition award items, etc. List other specific areas of your operation that would be impacted that you know you would be expected to continue doing but would not have the funds to do.

Now that you know your worth, it is time to show your worth.

Prepare to have an honest conversation with your supervisor and provide the documentation. Your department should take its fair hit to the budget along with everyone else. However, make sure they understand the consequences of certain cuts and that the message is getting to the superintendent if the superintendent is not your supervisor. The conversation could result in some new ways to address the challenges as well. Always be on the lookout for the win-win.

Doing all of this does not mean you will escape budget cuts. But perhaps it could result in a smaller budget cut. It could also help lay the foundation for a possible request for additional funding later in the fiscal year when you are about to run out of money due to administration insisting you continue spending on things because it is just expected and demanded of everyone, thus burning through your reduced budget. All of this helps you and your department know your worth. Then share your worth, even in better budget times.

Going through the know your worth and show your worth process could also come in handy should someone on your team leave the district during the coming school year. About 80% of most school district budgets are tied to personnel. So, to have any major impact on budgets districts usually include hiring freezes and cutting of personnel through attrition. Should a mission-critical member of your team leave, you will be a little better prepared to do a little groveling to have that position filled and not eliminated or frozen for too long.

Tight fiscal roads are tough to travel. Since so much of what our departments do is tied to things that would be noticed if they are eliminated or cut dramatically, it will be important that administration and other department heads fully understand the impact. So, know your worth and show your worth. The effort is well worth it.

Do you have some helpful thoughts to add to this topic? Drop it in the comments.