| 2009-10 District Budget Survey - Decision Screens |
All Respondents |
Rank |
| Number of Respondents |
3354 |
|
| Maintain efforts to attract and retain high quality staff |
4.336 |
1 |
| Protect the beneficial impacts of smaller class sizes and reduce the negative impacts of increasing class sizes |
4.223 |
2 |
| Ensure budget concerns do not compromise the safety and security of students and staff |
4.218 |
3 |
| Ensure adequate teacher input in curriculum, instruction and assessment decisions |
3.963 |
4 |
| Protect teachers' time so that it can be focused on teaching and learning, including time for planning and preparation |
3.841 |
5 |
| Maintain efforts to ensure a clear, common, guaranteed and viable curriculum including resources to adequately support implementation and sustainability |
3.785 |
6 |
| Ensure direct classroom level of instructional support staff is kept at adequate levels, e.g., classroom Instructional Assistants |
3.695 |
7 |
| Assure adequate levels of support for teachers in addressing the needs of students receiving special services |
3.668 |
8 |
| Recognize increased staffing requirements for helping students who are not at standard reach the standard |
3.639 |
9 |
| Ensure building level administrative and instructional support staff is kept at adequate levels, e.g., principals, vice principals, counselors, librarians, building clerical support |
3.636 |
10 |
| Maintain a comprehensive instructional program that provides opportunities for students to receive a rich and varied educational experience, including opportunities for choice programs, e.g., Running Start, vocational opportunities and choice schools |
3.628 |
11 |
| Maintain and adequate investment in maintenance and operations of facilities to provide a positive learning and working environment and to protect their value |
3.574 |
12 |
| Ensure building level non-instructional support staff is kept at adequate levels, e.g., custodians, playground supervision, crossing guards |
3.429 |
13 |
| Ensure district-wide administrative and instructional support is kept at adequate levels, e.g., central leadership, staff development, Instructional Technology Departments |
3.158 |
14 |
| Ensure district-wide non-instructional support staff is kept at adequate levels, e.g., facilities staff, payroll, accounting, HR, transportation |
3.154 |
15 |
| Additional Considerations |
| Ensure that the long range impact of decisions are considered. |
4.070 |
|
| Seek opportunities for increased revenues and identify alternative sources of funding. |
4.004 |
|
| Identify efficiencies or alternative methods to accomplish goals/tasks. |
3.895 |
|
| Maintain a five percent fund balance to ensure adequate emergency reserves and to support a strong bond rating in order to control the costs of capital improvements. |
3.538 |
|
| Consider the impact of budget decisions on those with least ability to compensate for reductions |
3.536 |
|
| Avoid disproportionate impacts of people, programs and groups by reducing the impacts on those with the greatest needs |
3.515 |
|
| Note: Scores are averages on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being most important |
| 2009-10 District Budget Survey - Specific items |
All Respondents |
Rank |
| Number of Respondents |
3354 |
|
| Class size in Kindergarten and first grade |
4.049 |
1 |
| Class size in grades two and three |
3.970 |
2 |
| Class size in grades four through six |
3.878 |
3 |
| Teacher planning, preparation and training time |
3.650 |
4 |
| Class size in grades seven to nine |
3.631 |
5 |
| Regular upgrades of textbooks and instructional materials |
3.625 |
6 |
| Extra support for students not yet at standard |
3.581 |
7 |
| Mentoring and training for new teachers |
3.528 |
8 |
| Transportation for elementary students |
3.514 |
9 |
| Class size in grades ten to twelve |
3.498 |
10 |
| Playground, crossing guard and student safety support |
3.440 |
11 |
| Technology operations and support |
3.422 |
12 |
| Classroom instructional assistants |
3.345 |
13 |
| Mentoring and training programs for teachers |
3.314 |
14 |
| Materials and supplies |
3.301 |
15 |
| Building custodial and maintenance support |
3.249 |
16 |
| Senior high athletics |
3.176 |
17 |
| District-wide curriculum and assessment development |
3.171 |
18 |
| Pre-Kindergarten support for at risk students |
3.169 |
19 |
| Clerical and office support |
3.129 |
20 |
| Senior high extracurricular activities |
3.118 |
21 |
| Transportation for Junior High School students |
3.091 |
22 |
| Junior high extracurricular activities |
2.999 |
23 |
| Junior high athletics |
2.944 |
24 |
| District and building leadership |
2.889 |
25 |
| Community services such as theaters, swimming pool, stadiums |
2.796 |
26 |
| Transportation for High School students |
2.575 |
27 |
| Transportation for extracurricular activities |
2.254 |
28 |
| Communication tools such as newsletters and printed calendars |
2.197 |
29 |
| Transportation for optional programs |
2.048 |
30 |
| Scale: 1 = least important to 5 = most important |