Many school districts have developed large debts, and in some
cases had to close schools and make major cuts to balance their
budgets as a result of financial short falls from the state. But
San Benito High School District has managed to make no cuts, and
instead, has been giving money to the departments to better its
programs.
Many school districts have developed large debts, and in some cases had to close schools and make major cuts to balance their budgets as a result of financial short falls from the state. But San Benito High School District has managed to make no cuts, and instead, has been giving money to the departments to better its programs.
“I worry about our finances all the time because I want to make sure we’re fiscally sound,” District Finance Director Steve Delay, said. “I wouldn’t sleep at night if we weren’t.”
Unlike Hollister School District, which faced a $2 million deficit this year, SBHSD has $1 million left in its general fund after paying all its expenses.
Delay, who has been handling the districts finances for the past 30 years, said there are many components that help SBHSD continue to stay in the black.
“We play a very proactive role when times are lean,” he said.
A year-and-a-half ago, when Governor Gray Davis was in office, Delay said there was a warning from the capitol that cuts might be made to the schools. SBHSD planned for it by putting the money aside, but the cuts never happened. Planning ahead and preparing for those cuts – roughly $218,000 –provided the district with extra funds to help the students.
“We used that money to buy computers, scientific calculators, all sorts of stuff,” he said.
SBHSD gets its state funding just like every other district. The state awards funding by average daily attendance. For every student who is enrolled and attends class, the district receives $5,000. SBHSD has 2,700 students, but only has one campus to run. That plays a small part in the districts financial comfort, but it’s more about position control, Delay said.
“We’re able to watch things district wide,” he said. “As a district we can sit down and look at how everything is being spent.”
While most districts review their budget reports in January and March and then finalize it in June, Delay said he brings a detailed, up-to-date report to every monthly board meeting, and the board plays a significant role in making decisions.
“We have a great board that is interested in all financial implications,” he said. “We’ll sit and discuss something as small as a $10,000 expenditure. When you deal with the little things like that, they don’t turn into big issues.”
Superintendent Jean Burns Slater came to SBHSD in February of 2003, and said she’s been very impressed with the hands-on role the board plays with the budget.
“The board pays attention to every detail and they listen very carefully when the budget is being explained,” she said.
A lot of other districts think SBHSD is rich, but that’s not the case, according to Slater.
“We get just as much money as anybody else,” she said. “It’s not that we’re any richer than anybody else. It’s just that we’re very fiscally conservative.”
Tim Foley, superintendent of county schools said he’s very pleased SBHSD has managed to stay in such good financial shape through trying times, and that others should learn from its strategies.
He said “San Benito High School is not only a role model for other districts in the county, but districts everywhere.”
