I learned that school budgets not only inform us about priorities, but can also serve as a communication tool for the entire district. I think our school could use the budget as an opportunity to discuss progress and our strategic plan, but they don't. Teachers and parents rarely learn about the budget's educational and operational goals and outcomes. This is definitely something my school could improve on, as the school budget should reflect the community and its values. I also think there is a distorted perception of the public, and even teachers, regarding the school budget. Some of these views include that the school budget is a waste, administrators are paid too much, administrators are not forward-thinking, and money is spent in the wrong areas. These negative perceptions of school budgets are often heard during difficult economic times, such as when our school district recently went through a fiscal crisis. However, I have learned that without significant community, educator, and staff involvement, these perceptions will never occur