I should automatically request more funds?
October 21, 2004
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Joseph Gillis Jr.
You can do something!
It is often debated whether more money means a better education. However, I find it interesting that only in education do you hear people say to spend more. {See the tape of B-R School Comm Mtg of 9/29, and during a discussion on goals for MCAS, it was once again stated that "our goal should be to spend more on education."}
I believe that the role of the School Committee is to set the educational goals and policy for the schools. The budget is the method used to achieve those objectives. Consistent with that is my continuing theme of responsibility and accountability, and the need to understand how $45M or $48M (or whatever the current budget) is raised and spent.
In everyday terms, as a parent you may provide your teenager with $20 each Monday for weekly school lunches and other minor expenses. It is then brought to your attention that your child never seems to have money for lunches on Friday, and often snacks off of friends' lunches. What do you do? Do you automatically raise the amount provided to $25? Or, would you ask for an accounting from your child to determine why there is a lack of funds by Friday? As a parent, I know that I would want an accounting to know where the money is being spent. If it turns out that there is a valid reason for running out of money by Friday, then I would increase the weekly amount. However, if it turns out that the money is spent on grande double-lattee cappuccino frappuccino (whatever they are called) drinks each morning, then this would be an opportunity to discuss reasonable expenses and a limited supply of funds.
That is where we are as a School District. I have yet to see anything to substantiate the amount of money that is raised and expended by the Schools. Until such time that I can be convinced that funds are being raised and spent appropriately, I will not automatically request more funds. Two April 30th reports (that do not balance to each other) and one June 30th report is not sufficient. Have you balanced your checkbook since April?
