141 Use the budget as a cost containment tool linked directly to the district's strategic goals. The new budget development process links district budgets to actual expenditures over the previous two years. The 1997-98 budget process began with the development of district goals, and all expenditures are linked to those goals. 142 Require school principals, financial clerks, and secretaries involved in the budgeting process to attend the budgeting department inservice training that is already offered. 143 Create a single on-line budget development system.
Staff can download budgets and submit updated data on-line.
On-line budget development and update capability will be achieved with the implementation of the new financial system. All budget figures in documents, surveys, and media responses now include the source of the data and the date to which the information relates. The district should evaluate the true cost of applying for small-amount grants. Technical assistance is being provided to the schools so they can seek small grants for targeted programs. 146 Schools should move forward with their waiver plans.