Page 42 - School Planning & Management, November 2017

BUSINESS { MANAGING K-12 EDUCATION }
Doing More with Less
Lessons from the Field
By Staff
IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, many districts have been tasked with doing more with fewer resources. Whether its budget cuts or other obstacles like staff shortages and shifting
priorities, the creative use of resources has helped districts meet their goals within the boundaries of a tight budget. Three school districts — Wayzata Public Schools in Wayzata, Minn.; Livonia Public Schools in Livonia, Mich.; and St. Vrain Valley School Dis- trict in Longmont, Colo. — have created high-quality, innovative programs despite obstacles standing in their way.
Wayzata Public Schools: The Operational Excellence Initiative
A priority for Wayzata Public Schools is to be as efficient
and effective as possible and to be prudent with the taxpayers’ resources and to demonstrate financial vigilance to its community. In 2009, the district launched the Operational Excellence initia- tive, which consists of internal audits of all processes to eliminate deficiencies and to ensure resources are being used responsibly. Under the superintendent’s leadership, the school board added
42 SCHOOL PLANNING & MANAGEMENT / NOVEMBER 2017
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