| The process to identify $1.25 million in budget modifications for 2009-10 continues, with school board approval expected on April 14. On Monday, March 30, community-staff Input Team held its second meeting. Participants provided input on the continually changing, emerging approach generated from budget modification ideas and reactions from staff, the public, the Design Team, and from the Input Team’s first meeting.
In small groups, Input Team members provided an in-depth assessment of the budget modification approach and ideas. One process utilized an “Implications Wheel ”to identify positive and negative implications for budget ideas including implementing QComp and an alternative student transportation option.
To access resources provided at the March 30 meeting and developed during the meeting, go to Budget Modification Process to find the Current Budget Approach and 11 pages of strengths, weaknesses, and potential implications --of the current approach-- that the Input Team developed on March 30. (Note that this budget approach is by no means final, it a current list of budget ideas).
When asked for reactions to the process at the end of the meeting, community and staff members said:
- The process was transparent. I felt empowered, as a community member and parent, with this process.
- We came up with hundreds of ways to looks at budget options, and we took an in-depth look at each of them.
- There were a variety of stakeholder voices at the table, and the process allowed the variety of voices to be heard in a concise manner.
- Multiple perspectives were brought to this process. There is a realization of the difficulty of the process.
- Our voices were heard, our comments and input were validated. We made a difference in the process.
- The budget modification process is complicated, the process provided a give-and-take method for understanding it.
- We now have a deeper understanding of all of the elements and ideas and their implications
Next steps:
The public is invited to become part of the budget modification process in a meeting on Monday, April 6, 6:30 pm, at the District Services Center, 1415 81st Avenue NE, Spring Lake Park. The meeting will begin with an overview of the process to date and review of the current budget modification approach, after which attendees can choose to remain and participate --in small groups-- in a process to identify strengths and weaknesses as well as potential implications on the current budget ideas and approach.
The School Board is expected to approve budget modifications for 2009-10 at its Tuesday, April 14 meeting.
Budget process updates are available on the district home page and school home pages at SpringLakeParkSchools.org. |
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