District 833 Seeks Public Input On Budget Process

District 833, like most school districts across the state, is facing reductions in financial resources as state funding becomes increasingly scarce due to budget woes at the Capitol.

Subsequently, school leaders are seeking new ways to use available dollars more efficiently.

In an effort to ensure continual long-term financial stability, the South Washington County School Board unanimously approved a process at its Oct. 24 meeting.

The focus of the new budgeting process is to solicit ideas about how the district can better use existing funds, which includes the formation of a “budget-review team,” Finance Director Aaron Bushberger said.

The group would be comprised of 18 members: three district administrators, three principals, two school board members, five district staff members and five community members.

The team will be formed this month and solicit budgeting suggestions from the community and school leaders until February. Residents can submit their ideas online at the district’s website or via a letter now through Jan. 31.

Bushberger said the team will break down suggestions into a “stoplight” formula, under which the best ideas that have the least negative impact on students will be given the “green” rating; ideas that have some negative impact on students will be given the “yellow” rating; and ideas that save money but have the most negative impact on students will labeled “red.”

The school board already received some feedback about Budgeting for Excellence at three meetings last month at the district’s three high schools, and will continue to hold community engagement forums.

Bushburger said suggestions by citizens, school staff and district leaders will be mulled over by the budget-review team when it’s formed, and the group will then come back to the school board with budget improvement ideas. From there, the school board will vote to accept or deny the ideas. 

The school board approved the budgeting process without much discussion, but board member Marsha Adou did ask Bushberger about whether the citizens’ financial advisory committee would be involved in the process.

“It is anticipated that we would have at least one member from the citizens financial advisory committee serving on the budget review team to give that perspective,” Bushberger said.

He added: “We want to inform and educate staff and the community on public education finance and its impact on South Washington County Schools.”

District 833 residents will have the opportunity to learn more about Budgeting for Excellence when the quarterly “Window on Education” newsletter is mailed to homes Nov. 4. 

At tonight's workshop meeting, the school board is expected to discuss Spanish immersion, intra-district transfer and open enrollment parameters and "Series 800" school board policies. Find the agenda on the District 833 website.