How many budget forums?

Question: For the budget last year, you did three or four different forum. Are you going to do the same this year or just one?

Answer: This year, we started our budget conversation much earlier than we normally do. Beginning in October, we hosted a series of Community Roundtable conversations during which members of the Board of Education and district leadership team listened to the questions, concerns and ideas presented by residents in attendance about each of the six main areas of the school budget. These conversations are helping the board craft a 2010-11 school budget proposal in which they're attempting to balance the fiscal needs of our taxpayers and the educational needs of our students.

In addition to the Community Roundtables, the board has also sought community input on the budget through an online survey, public comment at monthly board meetings, and by accepting and answering questions and comments on this forum, Patriot Plain Talk. Although the budget proposal is nearing completion, the board will continue to welcome community input until it officially adopts a budget proposal for 2010-11.

To answer your question, because we've involved the community in the budget-building process from the start, we feel that there is no need to hold more than one public forum after the budget proposal is adopted by the board. That public forum is scheduled for 7 p.m., Monday, May 10, in the high school auditorium.
- answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent