Budget Defense for Prairie Wind Elementary School
Assessment Description
Each year principals are faced with budgetary changes. One of the toughest monetary changes to handle is the sudden notification of a reduction in funds. The following case study assignment will help to prepare you for this common occurrence.
For this assignment, suppose you are a principal who just learned that your school district’s override initiative failed. As a result, you have been notified that you must cut one teaching position and cut 10% from your site budget.
Using the full site budget you reviewed in the previous topic, prepare an essay 1300 words that defends the budget in a transparent, ethical way.
Include the following in the Essay:
The strategic planning and budget development processes used to create the budget
Visuals of major budget components
Justification of expenditures that include staff and technology resources. Demonstrate where the budget cuts will occur.
Justification for the one teacher you have selected to release, or present an alternative solution
How the plan promotes continual and sustainable school improvement and upholds the school vision/mission and the values of democracy, equity, and diversity
How the plan efficiently uses human, fiscal, and technological resources to manage school operations
How the plan proposes the mobilization of diverse community resources to support areas cut in the new budget
How the plan advocates for student needs
How the plan responds to current political initiatives and emerging trends
How the school will monitor and evaluate the implementation of the plan, including the school management and operational systems
Support your essay with 3-5 scholarly resources.
While APA style format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and PSEL standards should be referenced using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite Technical Support Articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.
Budget Defense for Prairie Wind Elementary School
Your Name
Subject and Section
Professor’s Name
November 24, 2023
In the complex landscape of educational finance, Prairie Wind Elementary finds itself at a critical crossroads, confronted by budgetary constraints that test the core of our mission. The reverberations of a discontinued district initiative reveal the harsh reality of a budget reduction of 10% and the unfortunate necessity of reducing our teaching personnel. This economic compression challenges our ingenuity and fortitude, measuring our adherence to the foundational principles of our community. Amidst these fiscal trials, our path remains guided by unwavering transparency and integrity, with each budgetary modification reflecting our commitment to nurturing growth, ensuring inclusivity, and enhancing collaboration. Confronting these challenges, our actions transcend mere financial management, instead reinforcing the ethos that unites us under the banner of "We are ALL in," a mantra that resonates throughout our school, binding our collective spirit.
Strategic Planning and Budget Development
Prairie Wind Elementary's budget formulation is intricate, blending diverse inputs and predictive analytics. Our strategic planning transcends individual efforts, embodying a symphony of perspectives ranging from educators to families, collectively sculpting our fiscal narrative, as noted by Selwyn (2021). This concerted effort, enriched with community insights and grounded in the analysis of financial trends and educational outcomes, informs our precise allocation of resources. These decisions are strategically tailored to energize our commitment to comprehensive engagement and propel our mission. Each fiscal commitment underscores our dedication to sustaining the essence of our institution—the relentless pursuit of academic excellence and