Matthew Lemos

Funding cliffs aren't over. The Student Support Block Grant just doubled and, despite some overall e…Funding cliffs aren't over. The Student Support Block Grant just doubled and, despite some overall economic insanity, one-time funds keep magically landing in school budgets. The decisions leaders make about how and when to spend these funds, and whether to spend them at all, are harder to make than they look. Budget development has always required tough tradeoffs, but today's environment adds another layer of complexity. Which expenses belong in the core budget, and which should be funded with one-time dollars? How do schools build a spending plan around funds that won't be there in Year Three? And how do schools stay on top of funding opportunities when they're already managing a hundred other things? This session brings together a team of back office providers and school leaders who have worked through these questions in real time. The presenters will get specific about funding sources and walk through a practical framework for making budget decisions they can defend when the money gets complicated. Participants will leave with a clearer strategy for timing their spend, protecting their core, and making sure the juice is actually worth the squeeze.