Budgeting 101 (The Trinity Way)

Well let’s try to understand this latest attempt at sabotaging sports. The school Board passes a budget, now most of us have a few problems with that budget, namely laying off several great teachers aids and staff members, Pay-for-Play, coaching reduction and so on. But here is one that seems almost comical because it is so ridicules, each department has a budgeted amount of money to spend, generally budgets are based on wish and need lists so you give the board a list of items you will need with the anticipated costs for those items. Then there may be discussions or possibly just a decision is made as to the actual amount that will be allowed, that number is then added to the budget, the budge is then approved and we have a working program for the upcoming year.

The process is a little different here at Trinity all of the steps are the same, except the last one that is. The final approved budget is then taken by a couple of the board members and an adjustment is made to the approved items, not the dollars, just the items. For example, football had all of the normal items included, items that are very important to fielding a team, items that are required by law in some instances. But a few wise members of Trinity Area School Board have decided it is a frivolous expense to purchase mouth guards, girdle pads, and chin straps etc. Almost every sport has been affected by these listing so the money is still but the approved items list is reduced to almost nothing. Once the budget is approved by the full board what would one or two of the board members gain by then changing the list of approved purchases? More importantly what would make them believe they have the power or authority to do so without the entire board voting? I think it is time we all start asking these questions and demanding answers from them. As I stated in the last blog “enough is enough”. Please attend the upcoming board meetings and tell them how you feel The next one is July 21st.