SCHOOL BUDGETS The responsibility of school budgets rests with the school council. The three main responsibilities of the council are: 1) To adopt an annual budget, monitor the budget on a monthly basis and make adjustments as needed; 2) To use all the school’s resources to help reach the goals for students. Those resources include money and also staff and staff time; 3) to write a formal request to the school board for additional money (if there is any). The money is usually referred to as Section 7 Money, because the rules for allocating it come from section 7 of the budget allocation regulation, 702 KAR 3:246. With this being said, KEA highly recommends school councils have a budget policy. KEA representatives are available to help school councils with policy development. The council needs to understand the priorities for student achievement and be committed to
using school resources to effectively address those priorities. Good communication among the council, central office finance department, principals and teachers is a key to success in effectively using school resources. The main budget areas for the council are: Staff Allocations for Certified Staff (Section 4) and Classified Staff (Section 5); Other Minimum Allocation (Section 6), this is the Main Instructional money available to the school; Remaining Funds Allocation (Section 7); Professional Development (PD) (Section 8) this is money to develop knowledge and skills to move all kids to proficiency; Extended School Services funds (for students who need additional instructional time to reach state standards); Activity Funds and Textbook Funds which have not been available in recent years due to the state budget shortfall.
For more information on district and school budgets, visit this web address: www.education.ky.gov/KDE/administrative+Resources/ Finance+and+Funding/School+Finance
24 Kentucky Education Association Guide to Effective Teaching