The school board of the Albert Lea Area Schools would like to give community residents, parents and staff the opportunity to actively participate and enhance their understanding of the district’s finance and budget planning process. As such, the board adopted a resolution creating the Budget Advisory Committee at their meeting of Feb. 3.

The Budget Advisory Committee will be made up of 12 district stakeholders, including at least eight parents and/or other community residents and four representatives of employee bargaining groups. Two school board members, the superintendent and I, will serve as ex-officio members.

The scope of the Budget Advisory Committee is to become familiar with the district’s budget and finances, and to provide input to the school board in the form of ideas and/or questions. The committee will continue in effect for an initial period of three years and will be reviewed annually by the school board.

The specific charges to the Budget Advisory Committee are as follows:

– To increase their own knowledge and understanding of the budget process and the use of district resources.

– To foster trust and confidence in the financial affairs of the district throughout the community.

– To be proactive and alert to possible variables which might impact district finances.

– To review processes and procedures to enhance efficiencies within the district.

– To help communicate to the public at large the needs and uses of resources.

– To serve as advocates of the district’s financial objectives when communicating with legislative members.

Meetings will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at the Brookside Education Center. This schedule can be altered at the discretion of the committee once it is formed.

The school board and administration are looking for representation from as many different segments of our community and district as possible. This will be the main selection criteria used for screening applicants. Applications can be obtained at the district administrative offices &045; Brookside Education Center, 211 W. Richway Drive, Albert Lea, MN, or on the district’s Web site at http://albertlea.k12. mn.us. Applications must be received at the district administrative offices no later than Monday, Feb. 17.

Please feel free to contact me should you have an interest in discussing this opportunity further, or if you have questions in regard to anything mentioned in this article. I can be reached at 379-4805 or mstotts@albertlea.k12.mn.us.

Mark Stotts is the director of finance and operations for Albert Lea School District #241.