Policies
Middletown Public Schools No. 3030
Middletown School Committee Budget Implementation, Monitoring and Transfers
BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING, AND TRANSFERS
I. INTRODUCTION
The Committee recognizes its statutory duty to make appropriate changes to the school budget during the course of the school year and to approve expenditures consistent with state law and as applicable, the Middletown Town Charter.
Additionally, the Committee recognizes legislated duties and responsibilities of the Superintendent of Schools to be directly responsible for the administration of the annual operating budget of Middletown Public Schools and to provide appropriate financial information to the School Committee.
II. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The Middletown School Committee seeks to achieve the following goals and objectives with regard to budget implementation, monitoring and budget transfers:
• The School Committee will receive monthly updates of district expenditures.
• All other school department personnel will be directly responsible to the Superintendent in all procedural matters related to finance.
• All actions of the Superintendent or any other district employee in executing the programs and activities set forth in an annual operating budget of Middletown Public Schools shall be subject to the monthly review of the School Committee.
• Throughout the school year, the School Department will monitor all line items within the budget and report to the School Committee monthly on the status of the budget and year-end projections.
• During the monitoring and projection process, it may be necessary to adjust accounts within the budget.
• With the written approval of the Superintendent of Schools and Business Manager, funds not to exceed $10,000, or 10% of the line item, (whichever is greater) in transfers between School Committee meetings, may be moved between line items to facilitate the balancing of the budget.
• In no case shall such transfer result in any change to the bottom line of the budget. The School Committee will be notified of the transfers at each regular or special meeting.
• Line item adjustments in excess of $10,000, or 10% of the line item, (whichever is greater) must be brought before the School Committee for approval.
• All line item changes reflecting a substantial change in School Committee financial and/or educational objectives must be brought before the School Committee for approval. (with the exception of cases for special education, emergency repair, or purchase.)
• All budget actions by the Superintendent of Schools and the School Committee must be consistent with Rhode Island General Law and all other policies of the School Committee.
• All expenditures of district funds must meet the legal requirements of the Rhode Island Department of Education and Rhode Island General Law.
• All purchases must be made in accordance with the requirements of adopted School Committee policy.
References:
State Statutes and Regulations:
16-2-9 General powers and duties of school committees.
16-2-11 General powers and duties of superintendent.
16-2-21 Pre-budget consultation – Annual reports –
Appropriation requests – Budgets
16-2-21.2 Three-year budget forecasting process.
16-2-21-3 Meetings with city and town councils.
16-2-21.4 School budgets – Compliance with certain requirements. Town Charter and Code Provisions:
Sec. 304. Enumeration of power and duties.
Sec. 812. Budget; school committee to incur no obligation beyond the amount provided by budget.
33.10 Transfer of appropriations.
33.16 School Department Funds.
Amended from July 28, 2009 Approved Policy
1st Reading – October 15, 2015
2nd Reading and Approval – November 19, 2015
Review - September 18, 2025
3 Year Review Due - September 2028