Superintendent's Roles and Responsibilities in the Budgeting Process

The Superintendent’s Roles and Responsibilities in the Budgeting Process

For this assignment, I interviewed my site supervisor Sara Bonser. Mrs. Bonser is the Assistant Superintendent for Rockwall I.S.D. We discussed the superintendent’s roles and responsibilities in the budgeting process. Mrs. Bonser stated that “budgeting is a means of financial problem solving. With limited revenue available to fund programs designed to meet the needs of all students and fixed expenses needed for the operation of the district, creative problem solving is essential to maximize student achievement. It is the responsibility of the superintendent to translate the vision of the district and make budget decisions that align with the vision of maximizing student achievement.” The superintendent is responsible for ensuring that the financial operations of the district are efficient and effective. He or she is also responsible for designating the budget process, making sure that individuals follow through with the process, and the financial decisions being made align with the vision of the district. Mrs. Bonser also stated, “The budget is the tool in which the superintendent uses to provide the decision-making structure and resource allocation system that allows the district to achieve the vision of the entire organization.”

My second question pertained to the procedures, utility, and content of the Texas Education Agency Summary of Finance Template. Mrs. Bonser stated the summary of finance template was created by Region XIII, for superintendents to use. A new superintendent could collaborate with the district financial director and complete the template. The template features three year comparisons which are side by side. The superintendent uses historical information and data from the previous year. The content of the template relates to M&O tax rates, WADA information, student counts, property value information, and tax collection data. This template when completed will give the superintendent to identify patterns and trends throughout the district. After Mrs. Bonser discussed the template, I realized that the template is a great tool for the superintendent. The template seems very user friendly and will provide valuable information about the district.

The Superintendent’s Roles and Responsibilities in the Budgeting Process Reflection

A superintendent has a huge responsibility of planning and preparing a budget. The budget must be efficient, equitable, and effective. The superintendent must make sure the budget is designed to meet the needs of all students and the priorities of the district. Budget allocations must align with district and Board of Trustee’s goals. It was interesting to know that when planning the budget, the superintendent must look at revenues, expenditures, and fund balances. In most cases, the superintendent must allow four to four and a half percent of the budget for emergency and unexpected costs. The Summary of Finance Template is a great tool for superintendents to use. This template allows the superintendent to enter financial data to create a school budget. The template allows the district to view a side by side three year budget comparison. Patterns and trends can be monitored and identified. The superintendent must work closely with the district financial director.