District Management Journal
As budgets continue to decline, district leaders are forced to decrease staffing costs, typically comprising 80% or more of district budgets. In this issue, our Spotlight shares a new lens through which to examine an old challenge: a productivity viewpoint on staffing. Managing productivity is a mindset of looking at staff and programs based on how much learning takes place for each dollar spent. This approach places student learning at the center of a district’s resource allocation strategy and can provide valuable insights as to which programs and people districts should continue to fund.
Also in this issue:
Interview: Minnesota Commissioner of Education Brenda Cassellius shares her ideas on the power of cultivating teamwork and her vision for developing a whole human capital system to drive excellence. Cassellius discusses the collaborative role the state is forging with districts, and specifics about Minnesota’s plan for education reform.
Commentary: Boston Public Schools' (MA) Chief Financial Officer John McDonough discusses the district’s transformational move to a weighted student funding model. McDonough reflects on why weighted student funding was the best choice for the district, how it aligns with and reinforces the district’s strategic plan to increase equity and access, and how they handled the tough decisions faced in developing the new system.
Case Study: Fifteen years ago, Gwinnett County Public Schools’ (GA) Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks implemented a principal evaluation system based 70% on student achievement. As many districts across the country now seek to implement similar systems, Gwinnett’s experience offers insight into the process and a road map for how districts can define and evaluate school leadership.
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