Reflection on EDLD 5342

While reflecting back on this course I think about all of the new knowledge I gained that will improve my skills as a campus and district leader, especially in the area of school finance. Before this course, I had little knowledge on school finance, especially the Superintendent’s role in the budget process. I gained knowledge through the Competency 8 Self-assessment, the lectures, interview, readings, weekly assignments and activities.

            At this beginning of this course, I marked mostly I’s on the Competency 8 Self-Assessment. In almost every area of this competency I wanted to improve my knowledge and skills. After completing this course, I am able to with more confidence mark I am competent in most areas of knowledge and skill. I still believe I need more practical application to feel I have strengths in the budget process. I do believe I am competent in many more areas then I was before this course started. I do believe I could apply my knowledge in the area of acquire, allocate, and manage resources according to district vision and priorities, including obtaining and using funding from various sources, apply legal concepts, regulations, and codes as required and use revenue forecasting and enrollment forecasting to address personnel and budgetary needs accurately.

            The lectures, interviews, readings and weekly assignment allowed me to expand my learning on school finance. By starting first with the history of the financial system it allowed me to have an understanding of why the system is the way it is currently. I did not realize how many events have occurred that have shaped what the school finance system has become today in Texas. Through examining these historical events, I now have a better understanding of why our State educational system is in the financial trouble we are in currently. Also, by studying the terms adequacy, equity and efficiency I also understand now why there have been some lawsuits against the State and why there is going to be lawsuit over the current financial situation. Public school financing is a complex and controversial system. 

Also, before this class, I had never really understood the state formula or even looked at the state formula. I still have a lot of learning to do in this area, but at least I have better understanding of the state formula. I knew student attendance was important but I didn’t realize how important. I also knew we received extra funding for special education students, but did not realize it also included gifted and talented, bilingual, vocational and compensatory education. The WADA makes perfect sense to me because students in those programs need additional services, which cost the district more. I am looking forward to learning more in this area and seeing what my peers feel impacts the state formula.

            Finally, studying the TEA Budgeting Guidelines taught me a great deal about school finance.  The TEA Budgeting Guidelines is a wealth of information for a Superintendent while going through the budget process. After reviewing these guidelines, I learned about different budgetary approaches, legal requirements, roles and responsibilities, revenue estimates, financial forecasting and planning, budgeting for grant programs and multi-year construction projects. From these guidelines, I will be able to use this information in helping me develop a district budget or contribute to developing a district budget because this document walks a person through developing a budget from the beginning to the end. It also provides the guidelines set forward by the Texas Education Agency. Ultimately, it is the Superintendent’s role and responsibility to develop the district budget and this document will be a tool to guide the Superintendent through the budget process.

            I look forward to expanding my knowledge even more in this area. However, I believe this class gave me new knowledge and the ability to improve my skills as a campus and district leader, especially in the area of school finance.