In addition to a simple lack of understanding, the disconnect between communities and school business leaders can be exacerbated by other factors, such as differing communication styles and the channels and opportunities through which information is relayed.
Consider these strategies to elevate your approach to engaging and informing your stakeholders, help them better understand your district’s financial circumstances, and build buy-in for investing in budgeting solutions that best support student needs.
1. Make data public and easily accessible. Trust is imperative when making difficult funding decisions. Federal and state governments require transparency on certain data, including federal aid spending and per-pupil expenditures. Your state’s basic financial reporting information is unlikely to convey a useful overview, be easy to interpret, or connect to an educational program.
Sharing relevant budget data with the public and explaining how it affects school programs can create an atmosphere of trust and transparency in the community. Translating budget data into something your stakeholders will understand is a very helpful exercise in and of itself.
For instance, the process to apply for ASBO International’s Meritorious Budget Award (MBA) and Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting (COE) programs not only results in the creation of easy-to-understand budget and financial documents for your community but also provides a formative experience for any school business team.
2. Ensure the data is meaningful for your audience. Scaling down spending data to a per-student basis and showing the relative amount of money flowing into each school makes it easier to discuss which choices are in the best interest of students during constrained economic conditions. Also, compare spending over time on a per-unit basis for the service provided. For example, calculate and share the cost per mile to operate school transportation services.
3. Discuss priorities. When funds are insufficient to support all school district programs, it’s necessary to clarify priorities. Data showing the results of past spending on different programs, or return on investment, will help inform these discussions.
Beyond protecting a school district’s financial health, SBOs must be able to share analyses of expenditures and the most effective use of resources in changing economic circumstances. With transparency and accountability, they can build trust, engage their community, and chart a collaborative course toward achieving district goals.