Superintendent's Roles and Responsibilities in Budget Process

EDLD 5324 Part 4 –Superintendent’s Roles and Responsibilities in the Budget Process

During the interview with the superintendent, we discussed the structure of the district and how planning and budgeting works. In our school district the superintendent has a keen understanding that the legal responsibility for overseeing the budget rests on his shoulders.   I see it in his face and hear it when he converses with his entire team about the bond election or how the decision to move to an eight period day at the secondary level will effect the budget. He knows he oversees the budgeting process while the Chief Financial Officer and her department handles the development of the budget and adherence to state guidelines. The CFO anticipates collections and is able to give quick feedback when needed. I have seen the “look” in her eye when he puts her on the spot by asking for something or asking her to make something happen. You can tell the two of them work well together and compliment each other nicely. We discussed that the budgeting process should ensure that all stakeholders are involved. Superintendents must work collaboratively to establish goals for the district and sometimes it looks more like a political dance than leadership in this area. Give and take is evident in many areas. I asked specifically how much he has to know about the budget because finance/budget is something that is hard for me. He told me that the superintendent indeed must have a knowledge base but assured me that I do not have to know everything about everything. He instead pointed out that you must surround yourself with people who compliment you. Like me, he is a big picture person and a fast mover. Sometimes it is hard for him to be patient because he wants to change the world….immediately. So, he purposefully surrounds himself with people like Dr. Vazsauskas because he slows him down and helps him to think about all the details. He purposefully hired Mrs. Bowman, the CFO, because she slows him down and handles the minute details about budget and finance so that he can have the general knowledge he needs and can be supported by competent experts in their fields.  The entire team works together to adhere to the budget planning calendar and leads his team to guide the campuses through the budgeting and campus planning process, all in a way that is aligned the disrict’s vision and strategic plan.

I learned that budget and finance is best handled by a team of experts. It is ok that I am an instructional leader with talents in other areas. I must be proficient in everything but being proficient does not mean I have to know everything about everything.