Understanding Funding Flexibilities

Overview

While the Comprehensive Staffing Model (CSM) allocates funding for staff positions, in some cases principals have flexibility to budget the allocation for other purposes. Every allocation in the CSM is assigned a flexibility level. When requesting a budget petition, principals describe how they plan to repurpose the funds. Instructional Superintendents review petitions and can approve, request alterations to the petition prior to approving, or deny the petition request.

FY22 Flexibility Levels

What Are Petitions and How They Occur

Principals submit petition requests to propose changes to allocations. Petitions are a way that principals build their budgets and exercise flexibility. The petition process is collaborative and allows principals to share their budgeting priorities.

To do this, principals:

1. Submit a petition in the QuickBase Budget Application. This petition identifies the amount and cost of the proposed change along with a specific rationale.
2. The petition is reviewed by the Finance team for completeness.
3. Program teams then may provide advisory feedback to Instructional Superintendents regarding the petition.
4. Instructional Superintendents provide the final review, including approval, denial, or request for re-submission with changes.

Budgeting with Flexible Funds

When principals budget their flexible funding, they continue to have discretion to make additional changes. For example, a principal can choose to budget an additional early childhood aide beyond the school’s requirement using flexible dollars. Even though the early childhood aide is a required position, since the school has added an additional aide, the principal can adjust and budget for a different position.