Skip to content

District Spotlight: Budgeting & Financial Planning That Builds Trust

Districts Using Business Analytics to Strengthen Finances, Communicate Clearly, and Plan for the Future

Across the country, district leaders are using data to strengthen financial planning, improve transparency, and build trust with their communities. Whether managing tight budgets, planning for staffing and benefits, or engaging the community on key financial decisions, these leaders are using data to guide action, ensuring decisions are not only sound but clearly understood by stakeholders. 

Each of these stories features a 2025 Analytics Influencer – a peer-nominated leader using Frontline’s Business Analytics tools to create thoughtful, transparent plans that align district resources with long-term goals. 

Explore the District Stories

Building Trust & Improving Transparency

Loveland City Schools

Using Data to Plan for Staffing & Benefits
Read More

Building Trust & Improving Transparency

Clinton-Massie Local Schools

Engaging the Community with Clear Financial Data
Read More

Navigating Budget Challenges & Long-Term Planning

Bainbridge Island School District

Using Data to Navigate a Budget Shortfall
Read More

Navigating Budget Challenges & Long-Term Planning

The School District of Monroe

Using Data to Navigate Budget Adjustments
Read More

Optimizing Staffing & Resource Allocation

Harmony Independent School District

Optimizing Staffing & Budgeting with Data

Read More

Leading the Way in Financial Planning and Transparency

These districts are using data to:

  • Build trust and improve communication with staff, boards, and communities 
  • Plan for staffing and benefits with greater accuracy and transparency 
  • Strengthen budgeting and resource allocation to align with long-term priorities  
  • Ensure sustainability and readiness for future needs through strategic, data-backed planning 

See how other district leaders are using data to drive meaningful change. 

Return to District Spotlight
Building Trust & Improving Transparency

Loveland City Schools

District Background

Location

Loveland, Ohio (Cincinnati)

Enrollment

4,020 

Schools

6 

Focus

Budgeting for staffing & benefits

Using Data to Plan for Staffing & Benefits

Data Challenge 

Loveland City Schools wanted to increase transparency and build trust with their community by showcasing how staffing and benefits decisions aligned with their long-term financial goals. However, they faced challenges in effectively communicating these decisions in a way that the community could easily understand. 

Analytics Solution 

John Espy, Treasurer of Loveland City Schools, used Comparative Analytics to forecast personnel and benefits budgets more accurately, including planning for upcoming staff retirements. With clear, data-backed insights, he was able to present a transparent view of his financial planning and demonstrate his commitment to fiscal responsibility. The data helped to communicate to the community that decisions were being made with the future in mind, ensuring trust and buy-in from stakeholders. 

Key Impact:

A more transparent budgeting process that built stronger relationships with the community through data-driven decision-making and fiscal accountability.

Building Trust & Improving Transparency

Clinton-Massie Local Schools

District Background

Location

Clarksville, Ohio 

Enrollment

1,675 

Schools

3 

Focus

Passing a levy and improving community engagement

Engaging the Community with Clear Financial Data 

Data Challenge 

Clinton-Massie Local Schools aimed to pass a levy but needed a better way to communicate their financial needs. By making financial data clearer and more accessible, the district had an opportunity to engage the community, foster understanding, and build support for the levy. 

Analytics Solution

Using Comparative Analytics, Clinton-Massie created custom visuals to share with the community each week through social media under the hashtag #MassieMoneyMonday. These visuals provided clear insights into the district’s financial standing, breaking down how funds would be used and showing the continued importance of local financial support. This approach helped engage the community and build trust by ensuring that financial decisions were transparent and data-backed.

Key Impact:

Improved community engagement and increased support for the levy through data-driven communication that helped demystify the district’s financial position.

Navigating Budget Challenges & Long-Term Planning 

Bainbridge Island School District

District Background

Location

Bainbridge Island, Washington 

Enrollment

3,450 

Schools

7

Focus

Budget shortfalls and long-term financial sustainability

Using Data to Navigate a Budget Shortfall 

Data Challenge 

Bainbridge Island School District faced a significant budget shortfall and needed to communicate the financial situation effectively to staff and the community. The district also sought to develop a sustainable long-term financial plan but lacked a clear, data-driven approach to guide adjustments.

Analytics Solution 

Bainbridge Island used Financial Planning and Budget Management Analytics and Comparative Analytics to identify the budget shortfall, identify the root causes, and to project fund balances and model different financial scenarios. This allowed the district to explain the shortfall and its implications clearly to staff and the community, creating a shared understanding of the situation. The data also helped the district establish a roadmap for long-term sustainability by forecasting future needs and ensuring that decisions were based on solid financial insights. 

Key Impact:

By grounding decisions in analytics, Bainbridge Island School District established a transparent, informed approach to budget management. This fostered stakeholder confidence, stabilized financial discussions, and set the district on a path toward long-term fiscal health. 

Navigating Budget Challenges & Long-Term Planning 

The School District of Monroe 

District Background

Location

Monroe, Wisconsin

Enrollment

2,241 

Schools

5

Focus

Data-driven budget reductions

Using Data to Navigate Budget Adjustments 

Data Challenge 

After a failed referendum, the School District of Monroe was faced with the difficult task of making budget reductions. The challenge was to ensure that these cuts were made strategically, preserving the district’s core functions while minimizing disruption to students and staff. A $1 million budget reduction was necessary for the 2025-26 school year operating budget, adding urgency to the need for informed, precise decision-making. 

Analytics Solution 

Led by Ron Olson, Business Manager, Todd Paradis, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and Joe Monroe, Interim Superintendent, Monroe’s leadership team used Comparative Analytics to analyze staffing efficiencies across position groups. This enabled them to identify outliers that suggested potential areas for cost savings. The ability to identify outliers in staffing – particularly in comparison to demographically similar peers – was critical to our efforts. This comparative approach allowed the district to make informed, data-backed decisions about where reductions could be made while maintaining operational effectiveness. 

Key Impact: 

Budget reductions were driven by data, ensuring financial stability while prioritizing district needs. The strategic use of analytics enabled the district to meet its $1 million reduction target for the 2025-26 school year while continuing to support students and staff effectively. 

Optimizing Staffing & Resource Allocation 

Harmony Independent School District

District Background

Location

Big Sandy, Texas

Enrollment

900 

Schools

4 

Focus

Enrollment and salary trends 

Optimizing Staffing & Budgeting with Data

Data Challenge 

Harmony ISD, led by Superintendent Michael Alphin, needed a more effective way to monitor enrollment trends and salary benchmarks to make informed staffing and budgeting decisions. Recognizing this challenge, Business Manager Mallory Glenn spearheaded an initiative to improve how the district tracked these trends and compared them to peer districts. However, with limited resources, accessing and analyzing the necessary data in a meaningful way remained a challenge for optimizing resource allocation. 

Analytics Solution 

By utilizing Comparative Analytics, Harmony ISD was able to quickly assess trends in both enrollment and salaries, comparing their district’s data to peer groups. This helped leadership make smarter decisions about staffing levels and budgeting, ensuring that resources were being used as effectively as possible.

Key Impact: 

Improved staffing decisions and more efficient resource allocation through real-time, peer-informed data.

Ready to strengthen financial planning and build trust in your district? 

Fill out the form to explore tools and insights that help K-12 leaders use data to plan with confidence and communicate transparently.