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Budget Savings Ideas Process and Timeline

 

The following describes the process and 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 and implement additional operational efficiencies for the 2009-10 school year. This is necessary due to the projected multi-billion dollar deficit in the state budget, 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

Fall

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

Jan. 8-16               
Web site, e-news, local media 
Call for applications from staff, community to serve on District Budget Advisory Committee (DBAC).
Complete

Jan. 5-31                                                 

Web site, e-news, local media
Opportunity for anyone to submit budget savings ideas online.   
Complete

Jan. 8-29                                        

Meetings with all schools, district worksites and labor association groups
Share information and gather budget savings ideas from all district staff.  
Complete

Jan. 24                                                        
Inside Schools Annual Newsletter 
Share information with all district residents and advertise budget input opportunities.    
Complete

Jan. 27, 28                                                              

Public meetings at each middle school 
Share information and gather budget savings ideas from community.                    
Complete

Feb. 4, 5                                    

Meetings
Share information with Superintendent’s Parent and Student Advisory Groups.             
Complete

Feb. 10, 11
Meetings
The District Budget Advisory Committee (DBAC) meets to work with the list of potentially feasible budget savings ideas (List 1) submitted from stakeholders for the 2009-10 school year. Lists 2 and 3 summarize all other budget savings ideas submitted from students, staff and community by the Jan. 30 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 are shared with DBAC. The committee is charged with developing a recommended rank order of the budget savings ideas on List 1 to submit in a report to the Superintendent by Feb. 18.  
Complete

By Feb. 18
Rank-ordered List 1 of budget savings ideas to Superintendent
District Budget Advisory Committee (DBAC) submits a recommended rank order of the budget savings ideas on List 1 to submit in a report to the Superintendent by Feb. 18.  
Complete

Feb. 19
Web site, e-news
District posts online the District Budget Advisory Committee’s (DBAC)  recommended rank-ordered List 1 of budget savings ideas for the 2009-10 school year.  Lists 2 and 3 summarize all other budget savings ideas submitted from students, staff and community by the Jan. 30 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 are shared with DBAC.  All lists posted online.
Complete

Feb. 19 through
noon, Feb. 25
Web site, e-news
Opportunity for anyone to submit input online to Superintendent about the District Budget Advisory Committee’s (DBAC) recommended rank-ordered List 1 of budget savings ideas.
Complete
Feb. 19-26
Superintendent reviews online feedback with district leadership team and drafts Budget Savings Plan recommendation.
Complete

Feb. 27

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.
Complete
By March 2
Web site, e-news
Draft Budget Savings Plan recommendation posted online for public review and input. By request to allow more time for public input, the district will share and post this plan by 5 p.m., Feb. 27.
Complete

6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
March 2  
Public meeting at Shuksan Middle School
2713 Alderwood Ave.
Superintendent shares draft Budget Savings Plan recommendation with community and explains differences from the District Budget Advisory Committee’s (DBAC) recommendation. Opportunity to submit written input at meeting for those that prefer or need a paper method for submitting input. 
Complete
6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
March 3
Public meeting at Kulshan Middle School
1250 Kenoyer Dr.
Superintendent shares draft Budget Savings Plan recommendation with community and explains differences from the District Budget Advisory Committee’s (DBAC) recommendation. Opportunity to submit written input at meeting for those that prefer or need a paper method for submitting input.
Complete

Feb 27 through
noon, March 5
Web site, e-news
Opportunity for anyone to submit input online to the Superintendent about the draft Budget Savings Plan recommendation.
Complete
March 3-9
  
Superintendent reviews online feedback and written input submitted at public meetings with district leadership team and revises Budget Savings Plan recommendation as needed.
Complete

By 5 p.m. March  10

Board Docs on Web site 
Updated Budget Savings Plan recommendation for 2009-10 school year posted and submitted to School Board.
Complete

March 10 through
5 p.m., March 11.
The School Board will take action March 17. The Listening Post remains open. See below.

School Board Listening Post
Opportunity for anyone to submit input online to School Board about the Budget Savings Plan recommendation.
Complete
Ongoing
School Board Listening Post (always active)
School Board reviews input weekly.
Ongoing
March 12                                         
School Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m.
Superintendent presents Budget Savings Plan recommendation to School Board for review. Opportunity for public comment according to established procedures.
Complete
March 17

Work study session followed by a

Special School Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

School Board takes action on Budget Savings Plan. The Board will meet in a work study session beginning at 6:30 p.m., immediately followed by a special Board meeting with opportunity for public comment, according to established procedures. The Budget Savings Plan is the only agenda item. The public may observe, but not participate, in the work study session.
Complete
June 17

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

The Board will meet in a work study session to review the draft district budget.  The public may observe, but not participate, in the work study session.
Complete
June 25
School Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m.
School Board takes action on district budget.  Opportunity for public comment according to established procedures.
Complete