Site-Based Decision-Making and Weighted-Student Formula.

By Jill Wynns

SFUSD has instituted a Weighted-Student Formula to distribute resources in a targeted way within the District. Elected School Site Councils at schools now are making budget and program decisions. We are committed to expanding and strengthening this programs through training, re-allocation of new and existing resources and looking at best practices inside and outside the District.

Arlene Ackerman was recruited to be San Francisco's Superintendent in part because she was the architect of the "Weighted Student Formula" in Seattle and Washington, D.C. through which financial resources were given to schools based on the characteristics of their students. Schools get more money per student for students who are poor, not proficient in English, disabled. These are not categorical dollars that the state or federal governments require to be spent on these students, but additional general fund money based on the theory that schools with these challenges have a more difficult time meeting the needs of every student.

The new administration began to plan for a similar program by putting together a "Weighted Student Formula" Committee. More that fifty people met for months to develop a proposal to institute a WSF and Site-Based Budgeting Program. On the advice of the Labor-Management-Community Committee and the Board of Education, the implementation was delayed for one year to address capacity issues in the District. A Site-Based Budgeting Pilot Program was implemented for School Year 2001-2002 and training for all School Site Councils to prepare them to do school planning and budgeting was also undertaken.

Based on the lessons that were learned during the pilot program, full implementation of the Weighted Student Formula and Site-Based Budgeting took place in 2002-2003. In the first year most schools got additional funds to spend on programs, staff and equipment that they decided were important to the achievement of the goals in their School Plan. In the subsequent two years, schools have almost all had to make cuts based on state budget cuts, added costs for teachers and eroding student enrollment.

During the first year, the District decided to subsidize the "Weighted Student Formula" by paying part of the costs of teachers out of central budgets. When the state started making significant cuts, the District could no longer afford this. The WSF Committee decided that it would be best to pass on the costs to schools so that they would have the most flexibility in difficult budget times.

Cutting school budgets is very hard whenever it must be done. In California it is particularly difficult because the base funding is so low already. But, I absolutely believe that the careful, nuanced knowledge that exists at the schools makes it possible for schools to take the "laser" instead of "meatax" approach when making these tough decisions. Rather than have the Board affirm the administration's recommendation to cut all para positions by 50% or to cut all art programs, for example, schools can choose which cuts will have the least devastating impact on their school.

We have refined the School Site Council training each year so that we are building on our base of knowledge and building a critical mass of knowledgeable teachers, parents and students who can educate others about the school planning and budgeting process. This system is not perfect by any means, but it is a good start on empowering schools.

The new Governor and his Secretary of Education have proposed that schools be given control over their money, but that all the authority to make budget decisions, including contracting out for services, be given to principals. Superintendent Ackerman and SFUSD representatives, including me, have been working all year to convince the State that the inclusive process that we use is a much better way to go. Principals on the Weighted Students Formula Committees (they have been re-convened each year), have clearly told us that they do not want "all the money" sent to the school sites so that their school does not have to choose between instructional programs and basic building support like custodial or energy services.

This year schools have had to make devastating cuts, losing teachers and paraprofessionals as they have fewer students and have lost grant funding for support services. We are projected to lose students for a few more years as housing costs continue to push families out of the city.

In the coming years Proposition H funds will be coming to schools and the District is committed to developing a system of dedicated funds within the WSF so that schools can spend Prop H funds for the purposes intended, but it will be an integral part of the School Planning and Budgeting process. It is past time for schools to have as much control as possible over the money spent at schools and our School Site Councils are the model for future improvements.