VII. Finances and Resources

                 Like other schools in the state, most of the money to run the school comes from

tax levies.  Due to the economy, many of the schools are struggling to finance public education within their communities.  Luckily for the community of Sunnyville, education is still very important and the residents are willing to still help fund the school system.  Sunnyville recognizes that they are very lucky and have tried to cut back on costs within the school system without impacting the staff and the students.  So far, they have been successful at these reductions and have not had to cut programs or people.  The Sunnyville Board of Education is hopeful that the state will soon find other ways to fund schools so that the communities don’t constantly have to be worried about rising taxes (especially in the current state of the economy).

            The school Treasurer and Superintendent work hand-in-hand with the members of the school board in order to keep the district afloat.  They have introduced cost-cutting measures such as central printers, copying on both sides of the paper, central appliances (refrigerators, microwaves, etc.) as well as many cost-efficient changes to the buildings within the district.  They have also encouraged the teachers and staff to become involved by turning off lights and making suggestions on ways to cut costs.

            Ultimately, the principals of each building decide the best way to run to the school on the budget that has been allotted to them.  The principals have instructions that they are not allowed to run over budget.  Understanding, the nature of their assignment, the principals are careful to use their money wisely and make the most out of what is available to them.  The Superintendent and Treasurer oversee this spending to make sure that monies are used correctly and fairly throughout the district. 

            The principal (and the school) annually sponsors fundraisers to help fund the school.  While the high school students don’t usually participate well in these fundraisers, the principal is still able to supplement his budget with extra money to purchase incentives for the students and staff as well as the occasional large budget item.  In addition, the district encourages donations from within the community, so there are individuals who frequently donate money or items to the school in exchange for a tax deduction.