School-Based Budgeting Systems (SBBS)

The facilitative component of school-based management known as School-Based Budgeting Systems (SBBS)

The facilitative component of school-based management known as School-Based Budgeting Systems (SBBS) promotes accountability by moving decision-making from the district level to school principals, teachers, and even community members. Schools are expected to be accountable and productive. Additionally, school-based budgeting enables management boards and principals to obtain funds so they can carry out the projects they have planned without first contacting the District office. Ideally, SBB creates a faster platform for decision making. Harold, who is in-charge of the whole district and needs to impress the board and the superintendent, should come up with the most cost-effective way of formulating the school-based budget system. From the options which he had, the best one for him would be to assemble an in-house design team from the district and craft an efficient system from the group of experts.

The decision to assemble an in-house design team

This decision would be cost effective for both Harold and the district because they would not need to outsource experts from private firms or other regions. The system is also the preferable one because it is easier to manage a small number of people in one district than all the schools in various counties. Schools from different regions have multiple expectations and goals some of which may have overlapping priorities and therefore lead to conflicts of interest. Finally, the in-house designed budget may be useful to other districts which may need to hire the system and thus generate revenue for Harold’s school.

Hiring a professional budget-expert

If I were Harold, I would also go with the option stated above of hiring an in-house team to design the system; the school should hire a professional budget-expert who will subsequently train the assembled unit. One of the primary challenges that a school-based budgeting faces is the lack of professionalism, which can be handled easily. Moreover, there are different schools within a district, all with different requirements and therefore there should be a balance to satisfy the needs of all the institutions as well as the management. I would thus come up with an integrated system that adequately serves all the schools in the district. Teachers’ salaries should be matched with their capabilities for fairness to thrive.

Teaching the principals on accounting and budgeting

The assignment given to Harold gave him quite some problems and dilemma. These difficulties include how he would teach the principals about the accounting and budgeting, whether schools would have to add more clerical officers, and how teacher salaries would be determined. However, all these problems are a result of the lack of a reliable budgeting system. Harold, after initiating the system and ensuring that the system works just right, should begin solving his problems by teaching the principals on accounting and budgeting system.

Sensitizing the principals and determining teacher salaries

The principals would require as much information as possible for the School-based system to work correctly and efficiently; this is because they are the sole decision makers and hence planning and accountability is critical. Harold should, therefore, organize how the principals will get accounting proficiency especially through training from professional accountants. If possible, the head of schools should be assessed after the training before the inception of the budgeting systems. Once the sensitization of the principals is achieved, there will be no need to hire more administrative officers. The budgeting system will also help Harold in determining the salaries of the teachers.

References

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Hopkins, D., Stringfield, S., Harris, A., Stoll, L., & Mackay, T. (2014). School and system

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Smith, R. (2013). Human Resources Administration: A school based perspective. New York:

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Visscher, A. J., & Coe, R. (2013). School improvement through performance feedback. New

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