GMRSD Budget Process

There are two parallel courses of action that occur simultaneously and collaboratively during budget building – a micro, or building-level, process and a macro, or district-wide, process.  Each process informs and guides the other throughout. The Superintendent, Administrative Team, and Staff are responsible for the micro process and the School Committee (in collaboration with the Superintendent) is responsible for the macro process.  The timeline for these processes is dependent upon the deadlines established by local district policy, the Massachusetts General Laws and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.  These two sets of actions occur simultaneously and parallel to one another until they converge at the point of the preliminary draft district budget.  Throughout this process transparency and communication between the two processes are critically important.
This proposed budget process is not currently the practice within the district, nor has it been for some time.  For the past several years, the budgets have been “rolled over” and then adjustments made as necessary.  While that is certainly understandable and necessary at times, a more collaborative process breeds buy-in and ownership at all levels.  This is not a zero-based budget process per se, but it does not assume that everything that is in the current budget needs to stay in the next year’s budget.  Staff and administration will be evaluating programs and personnel and analyzing costs and benefits.

It’s been only three months since taking on the superintendent’s position for the Gill-Montague Regional School District. It has been a very interesting, challenging and encouraging few months.  I feel proud to be leading a team of such hard-working and skillful educators and have felt very welcomed by parents and citizens in both communities.

On Wednesday, September 30, voters from the towns of Gill and Montague will once again be asked to attend a district meeting to vote on a proposed school budget.  I would like to explain why the majority of the School Committee as well as the administration and staff feel that the proposed FY10 budget should be approved.