Balancing Funding, Transportation, and Community Engagement

This plan outlines a strategy for restoring student-focused budget priorities by ensuring transportation services are preserved, reducing costs in non-essential areas, and prioritizing community involvement. It emphasizes the importance of adhering to legal and ethical obligations while maintaining efficient use of resources. Additionally, it highlights the need for increased stakeholder engagement through advisory committees, town hall meetings, and transparent communication to garner support for a tax levy. By involving the community and empowering parents, the district can build trust, make informed decisions, and ensure equitable access to educational services for all students.

Restoring Student-Focused Budget Priorities

Restore Transportation Services

Restoring transportation services is imperative due to their legal and ethical significance. The reduction of these services may violate mandates ensuring student access to education, particularly for those in underserved or special needs populations. To address this, budget adjustments should focus on areas with minimal direct impact on students’ access and learning outcomes. Prioritizing equitable access to essential educational resources not only complies with legal obligations but also reinforces the district’s commitment to supporting all students effectively.

• Compliance with Pupil Transportation Requirements
• Ohio Revised Code Section 2917.14

Managing Budget Priorities

Strategic Reductions and Open Enrollment Considerations

When facing budget constraints, school districts should prioritize cuts or reductions in areas that have the least direct impact on classroom instruction and essential student services like transportation. Below is a list of areas to be considered before reductions are made to transportation services or comparable critical student services:

1. Administrative Overhead

• Reduce redundant administrative positions or consolidate roles.
• Streamline district-level departments to focus on core functions.
• Limit non-essential travel, conferences, and professional memberships for administrators.

2. Non-Essential Programs

• Evaluate extracurricular activities for cost-effectiveness and consider community partnerships to sustain them.
• Scale back non-critical initiatives that are not directly tied to academic outcomes.

3. Facility and Operational Costs

• Delay non-urgent renovations or new construction projects.
• Reduce energy costs through efficiency measures (e.g., LED lighting, HVAC scheduling).
• Limit facility usage during off-hours to save on utilities.

4. Contracts and Outsourcing

• Renegotiate vendor contracts for services like janitorial work, maintenance, or food services.
• Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of outsourcing versus in-house services.

5. Technology Expenditures

• Postpone upgrades to non-essential technology.
• Limit purchases of new devices unless they directly enhance instruction.
• Reduce software subscriptions with low usage or questionable impact.

6. Supplies and Materials

• Minimize non-essential purchases of office supplies or equipment.
• Implement district-wide inventory management to reduce waste.

7. Professional Development

• Focus training on essential skills and state-mandated requirements.
• Use in-house expertise for professional development rather than hiring outside consultants.

8. Athletics and Enrichment Programs

• Scale back funding for athletics by seeking community sponsorships or increasing participation fees.
• Temporarily reduce offerings in enrichment programs that do not serve high-need student populations.

9. Transportation Efficiency

• Optimize bus routes to reduce costs while maintaining service.
• Use staggered schedules to decrease the number of buses needed.

10. Reserve and Contingency Funds

• Reassess reserve fund levels to determine if some funds can be reallocated temporarily.
• Prioritize long-term sustainability but use reserves when critical student services are at risk.

11. Open Enrollment Students

• Set or tighten caps on the number of students accepted from outside the district to ensure the budget can support in-district needs first.
• Conduct a financial review to determine the cost of serving open enrollment students versus the revenue generated, ensuring that the district does not allocate excessive resources away from in-district students.

Increase Stakeholder Engagement

Involve the Community to Garner Support for a Tax Levy

1. Establish Advisory Committees:
   • Form committees of taxpayers, community leaders, and district representatives to provide input on the budgeting decisions and tax levy proposals.
   • Ensure that these committees play an active role in evaluating the impact of the levy and prioritizing community needs.
2. Host Regular Town Hall Meetings:
   • Hold informational town halls to discuss the tax levy, its necessity, and how the funds will be used to enhance education and services.
   • Engage the community in discussions, answer questions, and address concerns about the levy.

Foster Transparency to Build Confidence

1. Publish Accessible Budget Reports:
   • Share detailed, easy-to-understand budget reports with clear explanations of how levy funds will be allocated and spent.
   • Highlight the direct impact the levy will have on students, programs, and services, ensuring taxpayers see the value for their contribution.
2. Use Real-Time Spending Dashboards:
   • Provide an online dashboard to allow taxpayers to track levy spending and monitor the progress of funded initiatives.
   • Ensure the platform is regularly updated to maintain accountability and trust.

Communication Strategies to Build Trust and Empower Parents

1. Foster Two-Way Communication:
   • Establish open channels for parents to provide input and feedback through surveys, town halls, and dedicated communication platforms.
   • Regularly update parents on their child’s progress and involve them in key decision-making processes.
2. Empower Parents with Resources and Opportunities:
   • Offer workshops, resources, and tools to help parents support their child’s education at home.
   • Provide flexible participation options for school events, conferences, and leadership roles.
3. Ensure Transparency and Action:
   • Clearly communicate how parent feedback influences decisions and keep them informed about budget allocation, school policies, and student outcomes.
   • Act on feedback and ensure that all communication is respectful, accessible, and inclusive for all families.

Outcomes

• Engaged and Informed Community: Active participation from taxpayers and community leaders through advisory committees and town hall meetings leads to greater support for the tax levy. The community becomes well-informed about the levy’s necessity and its impact on student services and programs.
• Increased Accountability and Trust: Transparent budget reports and real-time spending dashboards provide clarity on how funds are allocated and spent. Regular updates foster accountability and ensure that taxpayers feel confident in how their contributions are used to benefit students and the community.
• Stronger Parent Engagement: Establishing clear, two-way communication with parents and offering resources empowers them to actively support their child’s education. Parents are kept informed about their child’s progress and school policies, and their feedback plays a critical role in shaping decisions that impact their children’s education.

By fostering collaboration between the community, taxpayers, and parents, the district can build trust, align efforts with community priorities, and ensure equitable access to essential educational services.