INTERVIEW SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS (approximately 1-3 paragraphs or 1 page) summarize and analyze what the most important things that he/she learned as a result of conducting this interview with this prin

SUMMARY OF INTERVIEW

1. Explain why it is important for someone to be knowledgeable about school finance in terms of maintaining one’s job as a principal and advancing as an administrator in your particular school system?

Response: School finance is essential to keeping a school up and running. If we look us and listen, we will see the position that school are currently in. Schools nationwide are short staff. Yet, we still have to keep going. It our duty to keep running and providing children with quality education. To keep things afloat I need to be knowledgeable of school finance and the ins and outs.

1. What specific areas of the school-site budget are you responsible for developing and monitoring?

Response: As principal, I manage and monitor all of school finance. I oversee the school’s budget, FTE spreadsheets, and allocation of resources. From there I have the responsibility of ensuring that we operate in compliance with federal, state, and district policies related to financial management.

1. What types of strategies do you use to balance the school-site budget and keep it from running in the red?

Response: When dealing with finances, I believe in transparency and accountability. My strategy is communicating and collaborating with staff on budgetary decisions. I additionally include the insights of parents and other contributors. I document everything for accountability purposes and provide updates to staff on the school’s finances monthly.

1. What criteria are used in the allocation of your site-based funds after salaries and benefits are accounted for?

Response: Once salaries and benefits are accounted for, we look at the school as a whole and see what areas need help. For an example, we will go to each department in the school and ask the leads what they need and how can we provide assistance to them. This can be for curriculum, PBIS events, and field trips, really anything that we can set aside money to make things happen.

1. To what extent and how does your school system prepare principals for the financial duties and responsibilities associated with the position? What, if any, recommendations would you make?

Response: Of course, like you are right now, I learned a lot in my masters program and definitely from the experience of being in the role. When I first started, I attended a lot of trainings and honestly as you go you will continue to learn. I recommend always being open-minded and open to feedback. I have made mistakes and I have learned from them. You have to be resilient.

1. To what extent, if any, do the financial duties and responsibilities associated with your position take time and energy away from being an instructional leader, particularly in a time of tight school budgets?

Response: Currently, we are the opposite of tight school budgets due to teacher vacancies. So, we have a surplus of funds that I am not in the position that I can just pay the teachers more. Yet, we are short staff, which pulls me into all type of directions to fill those positions or have substitutes in. There are downsides to having a surplus of funds, such as, currently; we have nearly $225,000 in funded opportunities that have not manifested for a myriad of reasons. The impact is far and wide… and I will own it. As a result, we have received our base allocation for the 2024-25 school year and our reduction is over $250,000. Immediate implications include the loss of the two unfilled vacancies and one elective unit.  We will also see impacts to the additional funds for collaborative planning, expenses for professional development and allocations for field trips

1. What are the ways that a principal can make sure that no problems arise when an audit is being conducted on their financial records by the school system?

Response: It’s all in your documentation and organization. Everything should be thorough and accurate. As long as through everything you do you are complying with financial policies, accurately documenting, and conducting your own in house audits, you will be okay.

1. What adjustments have you had to make in the school-site budget so far as a result of district-wide budget cuts?

Response: In the past, we have lost grants and that has really thrown a wrench in planning and resource allocation. Thankfully, we have an amazing grant writer who has been able to assist us in gaining and maintain various grants.

1. A. In what ways has the present budget crisis added to the stress of being a school principal?

Response: It can be so challenging to do everything you need and want to do when there is a budget crisis. At the end of the day, principals just want what is best for their staff and students. The cut of a budget could means a cut in staff, materials, student activities, and the list goes on.

B. What can a principal do to prevent such budget-related stress resulting in job burnout?

Response: Always remember to take care of you. You cannot be there for you staff if you are not there for you as well. Set aside time for self-care. Manage your time wisely; this job come comes with a lot.

1. What could I be doing right now to better prepare myself for the financial responsibilities associated with being a future educational leader?

Response: Always be willing to learn. I know when I started my leadership program I had not thought of the financial aspect of education in grade level schools. Look at the budget of your school now, how is it being used? Where are the funds coming from? How are things documented? Learn now and take it all in.