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Budget Savings Timeline for 2009–10

(to Develop 2010–11 Budget)

 

The following describes the timeline used for the development of the Bellingham School District’s Budget Savings Plan. This plan, once adopted by the School Board, will be used to decrease expenses, increase revenue, restore items if funding is available, and implement additional operational efficiencies for the 2010–11 school year. This is necessary due to the multi-billion dollar deficit in the state's two-year budget cycle, which accounts for 68 percent of all district funding. This timeline will be updated and may be adjusted as needed. However, input is needed by the established deadlines; this is necessary in order for the district to meet legal, budget-related requirements.

 

Time/Dates
Communication Method

Purpose

Status
Ongoing
School Board Listening Post (always active)
School Board receives input weekly.
Ongoing
Oct. 16–23
Website, e-news
Opportunity for anyone to submit feedback to help shape this year's budget process.
Complete

November
District Annual Report
Share information and communicate proactive budget savings planning.                         
Pending

November             
Web site, e-news, local media 
Call for applications from staff, community to serve on District Budget Advisory Committee (DBAC).
Pending

November–
December                                     

Staff meetings with all schools, district worksites and labor association groups
Share budget process information and gather budget savings ideas from all district staff.  
Pending

December (Online survey launch date TBD)                                                

Web site, e-news, local media
Share budget process and provide opportunity for anyone to submit budget savings ideas online until noon, Dec. 15.   
Pending

6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 1  (Dates/times tentative until confirmed)                                                           

Public meetings on northside (Shuksan Middle School) and southside (Fairhaven Middle School)
Share budget outlook and process information, and gather budget savings ideas from community.                    
Pending

Dec. 2, 3                              

Comittee meetings
Share budget process information with Superintendent’s Parent and Student Advisory Groups and gather ideas.             
Pending
January 4–15
District organizes budget savings ideas for District Budget Advisory Committee (DBAC) according to feasibility for implemention by fall 2010, for future consideration and illegal/not feasible.
Pending
January 
Inside Schools Annual Newsletter
Share information with all district residents and advertise upcoming budget input opportunities.  
Pending

Mid to Late-January
Committee meetings
The District Budget Advisory Committee (DBAC) meets to prioritize the lists of potentially feasible budget savings ideas submitted from stakeholders by the Dec. 15 deadline. The committee is charged with developing a recommended budget savings priority order for implementation to submit in a report to the Superintendent by Jan. 27.  
Pending

By Jan. 29
District Budget Advisory Committee (DBAC) report to Superintendent
District Budget Advisory Committee (DBAC) submits a recommended priority order of the budget savings ideas in a report to the Superintendent by Jan. 29.  
Pending

By 5 p.m. Feb. 1

Web site, e-news
District posts online the District Budget Advisory Committee’s (DBAC)  report to Superintendent that contains the recommended priority order of budget savings ideas for implementation for the 2010–11 school year.  Lists 2 and 3 summarize all other budget savings ideas submitted from students, staff and community by the Dec. 15 deadline.  Some of these ideas are potentially feasible but require future consideration, are not feasible/illegal, are already implemented, are unclear, repeated on another list, subject to Collective Bargaining or legal requirements/interpretation.  All lists have been shared with DBAC.  All lists posted online.
Pending

Feb. 2 through

noon, Feb. 12

Web site, e-news
Opportunity for anyone to submit input online to Superintendent about the District Budget Advisory Committee’s (DBAC) recommended priority order of budget savings ideas.
Pending
Feb. 15 –24
Superintendent reviews online feedback with district leadership team, makes any necessary revisions and drafts Budget Savings Plan recommendation to School Board.
Pending

Feb. 25

Committee Meeting
Superintendent shares Draft Budget Savings Plan recommendation with the District Budget Advisory Committee (DBAC) and explains differences, if any, from the committee's recommendation.
Pending
Feb. 25
Board Meeting
Superintendent submits Draft Budget Savings Plan recommendation to School Board and explains differences, if any, from the comittee's recommendation. No action will be taken at this time.
Pending
By noon, Feb. 26
Web site, e-news
Share Superintendent's Draft Budget Savings Plan recommendation online for public review. Explain differences, if any, from the committee's recommendation.
Pending

Noon, Feb. 26 through noon, March 9
The School Board's Listening Post is always open. However, the Board is specifically requesting feedback on the Draft Budget Savings Plan at this time.

School Board Listening Post
Opportunity for anyone to submit input online to School Board about the Draft Budget Savings Plan recommendation.
Pending
March 2 (time, date and location to be confirmed)
School Board Listening Session at Bellingham High School
Opportunity for staff and the public to meet one-on-one or in small groups with School Board members to give verbal public comment according to established procedures on the Draft Budget Savings Plan. District administrators will also be available to answer questions.
Pending
March 11

Work study session followed by a

School Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

School Board meets in a work study session beginning at 6:30 p.m., immediately followed by a Board meeting. The public may observe, but not participate, in the work study session. Using the online public input through the Listening Post and public comment heard during The Listening Session, the School Board uses the work session to make any necessary revisions to the Budget Savings Plan. The Board takes action on the Budget Savings Plan at the meeting following the work session.
Pending
March 12–June
District Business and Operations Office uses Adopted Budget Savings Plan to build a balanced draft district budget. District begins implementing the Adopted Budget Svings Plan as necessary to meet staffing and contractual deadlines and obligations.
Pending
June 17

Work study session for the School Board, 7 p.m.

The Board meets in a work study session to review the draft comprehensive district budget for 2010–11 that has been developed using the Adopted Budget Savings and Implementation Plan from the March 11 meeting.  The public may observe, but not participate, in the work study session. Draft district budget posted online for public review.

First reading???

Pending
June 24
School Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m.
School Board has a final reading and takes action on district budget.  Opportunity for public comment according to established procedures.
Pending