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Read user comments about the systems and services of SchoolFinances.com listed below.
The support and services offered by SchoolFinances.com is very beneficial in today's climate of school financial administration. The public's desire for information and financial accountability continues to grow as our constituents become more involved in the educational issues locally and statewide. Communicating a district's financial position can be extremely difficult without the ability to easily identify and demonstrate the key variables linked to the districts financial performance. SchoolFinances.com has developed many tools which are very effective in providing interactive feedback to School Boards, Administrators and members of the public during the various aspects of the financial planning process. I highly recommend the products and services offered through SchoolFinances.com.
Jeff Solomon, Director of Finance
Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Schools
The Financial Planning Model is a great addition to the superintendent's tool box. The model provides information that readily assists decision-makers in formulating plans based on data rather than hunches. In essence, the model organizes multiple sources of data into a blueprint for constructing numerous well-founded decisions. The model is a key tool for data-driven decision-making.
Kathryn Leedom,Retired Superintendent
Willmar Public Schools
The FPM uses readily available data but does something no one else has done. SchoolFinances.com has created a meaningful, good-looking comprehensive document that is a valuable planning tool for school districts.
Dennis Hoogeveen, CPA LarsonAllen Weishair & Co.
For a new superintendent in Minnesota the financial model is a useful tool in the following ways: I have used the model to understand the financial situation of our school district and the impact of various revenues and expenditures of our district. It has helped me understand the effects teacher salary settlements have on the projected fund balance. It has helped me make good conscious decisions regarding the current budget and next year's budget. I cannot say enough about how this has helped me through negotiations, budgeting, and student to teacher ratios. Possibly the most important aspect of this model is the future projections of enrollment. The idea of using real data and a mathematical formula to make these future projections, gives me the confidence I need to illustrate to the board the financial condition of the district now and what it may be in the future. Good decisions are made with good data.
Todd Sesker, Superintendent
Cannon Falls Public Schools
The Inver Grove HeightsSchool District has been a user of the Financial Planning Model (FPM) and other SchoolFinance.com products for the past three years. Prior to the use of the FPM, the school district used a variety of different systems. These were acquired over the years to complete the budgeting process. Through a group of interactive spreadsheets, the FPM includes all of the needed budgeting components in a single system. The FPM spreadsheets include: enrollment, revenue, expenditures, reserve goals, and other options. These spreadsheets are used to graph both the present and the potential future of the school district's financial position. The FPM was designed by an individual whose sole intention has been to give Minnesota school districts the best resource tool available to handle the complexities of the Minnesota School Finance Formulas. The FPM can be used with school boards when considering future referendums, fund balance goals, budget reductions, negotiations, and a multi-year financial plan. Excellent support is given by the School Finance.com staff for the initial FPM training, the implementation, the follow-up, and the continued electronic support. The FPM is improved annually by Jim Sheehan , incorporating all legislative formula based changes, as well as the suggestions from FPM clients to make the system more responsive to their needs. The FPM is one product which I have no hesitation in suggesting or recommending to others in School Business Management.
Bruce Rimstad, Business Manager
Inver Grove Heights Public School
I am a relatively new user of SchoolFinances.com's financial planning model. Prior to 'converting" to the FPM, I relied on an in-house financial planning model developed by former district finance staff. That planning model has served the district well and I was comfortable with it. When our Director of Finance suggested that we switch to the FPM in 2004, I was skeptical, but decided that I would give it a try. That decision turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. The transition from our 'in-house" model to the FPM went very smoothly. The support and services provided by SchoolFinances.com staff was invaluable. They took time to listen to our needs and help us customize the FPM to fit our site-based budgeting needs. The FPM, with its built in simulation capabilities, such as staffing, referendum, fund balance target, etc, is a powerful financial planning tool. It also comes with relevant charts and graphs for communicating financial planning results with school board members, administrators and the public. I find SchoolFinances.com's FPM to be a comprehensive, user friendly financial planning tool. In addition, SchoolFinances.com has also developed other interactive planning products for enrollment projections and teacher negotiations. These models are extremely effective for school business officials to perform their 'what-if' simulations. I would definitely recommend the products and services offered through SchoolFinances.com.
Stella Johnson, Coordinator of Finance
Rosemount-Apple-Valley-Eagan
The spreadsheet products, support, and service provided by SchoolFinances.com are very important not only to the Chief Financial Officer of the District, but the Board and other staff. I have used SchoolFinances.com variety of products for six years. I find these tools critical for me to keep up with monitoring the District's budget and long range forecasting and decision making. The models have a good balance of detailed information, graphics and summary information. SchoolFinances.com has a commitment to a high level of customer service. They constantly monitor legislation and other changes in the school finance arena and make appropriate changes to the existing models and/or create new spreadsheets. They are always available to answer questions and they also provide a variety of options for individual and group training.
Margo Nash, Director of Business Affairs
Edina School District
The Financial Planning Model permits school leaders to effectively conduct long-range financial planning, model financial alternatives for the School Board and public, and select a financial future that is in the best interest of the organization.
Dennis M. Sullivan, Ed.D.
Retired Director of Business Services
North St. Paul/Maplewood/Oakdale
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