Budget and the CSIP Analysis 1

Running Head: BUDGET AND CSIP ANALYSIS OF DENVER COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

Budget and the CSIP Analysis:
Analyzing Denver Community Schools Budget and Comprehensive School Improvement Plan

Christopher M. Krueger

EDADM 552

Dr. Dan Cox





















Budget and the CSIP Analysis 2

The Denver Community School District serves approximately 760 students and is made
up of one elementary school (K-5), one middle school (6-8) and one high school (9-12).
Enrollment has remained stable the past few years and this trend is expected to continue. 99% of
the districts students are white, approximately 12% are on free and reduced lunch, and 16%
receive special education services. The District has worked with neighboring districts for many
years and currently shares secondary academic classes and/or athletics with two neighboring
districts (Denver CSIP, 2010).
According to the Denver Community School Comprehensive School Improvement Plan
(CSIP) from 2010-2014, Denver CSD has five main K-12 long-range student achievement goals.
The first three consist of students being prepared for success beyond high school in the content
areas of reading, math, and science. The other two goals consist of using technology in these
academic areas and students feeling safe and connected to school. This analysis is a comparison
of the Denver CSIP Goals from 2010-2014 to the 2012-1213 Denver Community School Budget.
The first three goals state: All K-12 students will achieve at high levels in reading
comprehension, mathematics, and science, prepared for success beyond high school. Denver
CSD has shown a dedication to working towards achieving these goals through researched based
strategies, developed by stakeholders and supported by national research. Denver administrators
and K-12 faculty are at the forefront of Professional Learning Communities as evidenced by
Denver Schools being named the only PLC certified school in Iowa. Denver CSD is also
engaged in Iowa Core Concept Based Learning and Assessment. Denver Schools also provide
many professional development opportunities, incorporating collaboration time to improve
teaching. Denver also has access to and utilizes AEA 267 consultants for further expertise in the
area of reading comprehension.
Budget and the CSIP Analysis 3

In analyzing the budget, the largest amount of any one area of the school budget is
dispersed towards regular program costs including teacher and staff salaries. As in any district
salary costs are a large part of CSIP goals. Having quality, qualified teachers is essential to
reaching the CSIP Goals of student achievement. Retaining effective teachers that are
instrumental in helping students achieve has to be a school priority. In order for students to
continue to achieve and make progress, a school needs teachers to continue to achieve at a high
level professionally. Another portion of the budget is directed towards many opportunities
provided by the AEA agency. Many of these specific items include special education services,
professional development, media services, and any other educational services the AEA may
provide.
Denver has been able to hire and retain excellent teachers, has spent a portion of their
budget on PLC training and professional development centered round the implementation of
these PLCs and Iowa Core Curriculum. I feel Denver CSD is adequately using funds to support
the CSIPs goals of having students achieve at high levels in Reading, Math, and Science by
spending monies in these areas. The amount of monies spent in each area is vague on the budget
report; so I would recommend that it be itemized to be more specific as to the exact amount
being spent in each of these areas so stakeholders can better understand the benefits and costs of
each of these areas pertaining to these goals.
Goal 4 states: All K-12 students will use technology in developing proficiency in reading,
mathematics, and science. Denver CSD has always looked to be on the cutting edge when it
comes to technology in the classroom. Obtaining this goal begins at the early years by
purchasing mobile labs, and iPads for the K-4 to use, but following up these tools with teacher
professional development on how to use them to help improve student achievement. In 5
th
grade
Budget and the CSIP Analysis 4

students attend a Technology class daily and in 8
th
grade students take a Technology Assessment
Test. The high school has gone to 1:1 laptops this school year. This goal impacts the amount of
technology within the district, such as document cameras, laptops, mobile labs, iPads, interactive
boards, and laptops. Using technology K-12 to improve student achievement helps Denver CSD
reach Goals 1-4 simultaneously.
As related to the budget, monies spent on Technology and computer upkeep is second
only to the previous mentioned salaries and health insurance. Denver CSD has made this a
priority in their schools and it shows through the amount of money dedicated to Technology, and
definitely into the future with high school adopting the 1:1 Apple Macbook Airs, along with a
new 8-12 updated technology standards.
It is easy to see that the first four goals are looked at when spending money in the district.
I would again recommend a more itemized list of how much exact money is spent on exactly
which area of hardware. I would then look to see if all of the hardware is being utilized to its
fullest capability and whether or not more teacher training needs to take place to make sure the
tools in place are being used effectively to improve student achievement and not just there as fun
toys. I think as a future administrator it is important to put the best technology I can into the
classroom, but more importantly to make sure it is being used the best it can be to impact student
learning. Spending money on training teachers to use technology will be more beneficial to the
district then just buying a lot of new technology.
The 5
th
and final CSIP goal states: All students will feel safe and connected to school.
Denver CSD has made this a focal point in classrooms over the last few years. Finding how this
correlates into budget spending is hard to locate with out a detailed itemized listing. I know
Denver has spent monies on Olweus training for staff and implementing the program K-12. A
Budget and the CSIP Analysis 5

Building Tomorrow: Culture and Climate Partnership Survey is administered in grades 5, 8, and
10. Character Counts in implemented at the elementary and excellent guidance counselors have
been hired in the last few years.
Again I would like to see how much is spent in each of these areas, I know this is a goal
focused on K-12, but it is hard to tell if this goal is being equally addressed by the budget in
comparison to Goals 1-4.
As a future administrator it is important to understand how monies spent and where they
are spent can affect your CSIP goals. It will be important for me in the future to be conscientious
of spending and make sure it is allocated to the areas that it can have the most impact on the
goals established by our Comprehensive School Improvement Plan.