The Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is seeking help from families and community members to make difficult decisions about next year’s budget. SPS faces a funding gap next year, as it has the past two years, because of decreased funding and increased costs, it said in a press release. A further blow to the 2011-2012 budget is that to fill the budget gap for the current school year, the district used many “one-time funds” that are not available to SPS a second time.
Here’s one way you can participate in the process:
Families and community members are invited to complete a survey that asks for ranking of the value of various types of programs and services, and there is space to add additional comments. As an aid to families, we have also developed materials that explain how SPS budgets are developed. These include a PowerPoint presentation, two-page summary and more detailed 13-page document for those who want to delve more deeply into district budgeting. These materials include information on the budget development timeline, source of funds, use of funds and other factors in the budget process. We want to thank members of the Seattle Council PTSA board, who reviewed the materials and provided some invaluable feedback that we have incorporated.
The survey and materials are all available at http://www.seattleschools.org/area/budget/index.dxml
Please complete surveys by noon on Friday, Dec. 3. Responses will be summarized, posted on the website and shared with board members. The budget development process continues through June, when a recommended budget will be introduced to the School Board. (NOTE: The survey is set up to accept only one submission from each ISP address. Therefore if there are multiple individuals in your office or household who wish to complete the survey, they will need to use a different computer).
