Balancing Expenditures and Right-Sizing

Central Office and Support Service Departments

for Schools, School Districts and Colleges/Universities

 

With the recent reductions in available funds for the K-20 education industry, never before have school leaders faced such a daunting task.  Managing in times of budget shortfalls and ambiguities is a real challenge.  Managing with increased expectations for student achievement makes your task even more difficult.  Simply stated, budgets are tight.  Categorical funding is increasing.  Operating budgets are decreasing.  You are left with fewer dollars to spend over which you have discretion.  Can your organization make these budget cuts and still perform at an optimal level?  Are your support and central office departments right-sized?  Are your operating expenditures balanced between in-house and purchased (contracted) services?  We can help you ensure that the answer is yes. 

 

The Portolan Group (PGI) is the nation’s premier provider of consulting services to school, school district and college/university central office, business and support service departments.  Our assistance has helped: save money; improve performance; and insure maximum usage of general operating revenue (the funds with which you have discretion).  Utilizing the services of The Portolan Group will assure educators that their organizations are operating with maximum effectiveness and efficiency.  From finance to food; from budgets to building management, we can help.

 

PGI’s assessments and improvement strategies have assisted schools, school districts and colleges/universities in saving or finding better use for millions of budget dollars.  PGI’s findings are practical, based on years of experience as both educators and consultants. 

 

In times of budgetary uncertainty, The Portolan Group will provide:

 

Support Service Consulting

 

                       We Work with You to:

 

• Assess departmental (whether in-house or outsourced) functioning to maximize effectiveness and efficiency

• Implement quality assurance tools to focus on continued improvement over time

 

Central Office Consulting

 

                       We Work with You to:

 

• Right-size departments and maximize use of unrestricted general operating revenue

• Create departmental business plans to provide focused operations

 

Alignment of Business Departments with Academic Goals

 

                       We Work with You to:

 

• Synergize school/site and business/central office staff to support each other’s goals and work

• Maximize student achievement

 

The Portolan Group will work with your organization to find savings:

 

• In outside purchased/contracted services

• By right-sizing departments instead of across-the-board cuts

  

Who are The Portolan Group’s Customers?

 

            Large School Districts/Universities

 

• School District of Philadelphia
• Broward County Schools
• Kansas City Missouri School District
• San Diego Unified School District
• Oakland Unified School District
• Cal State University, Monterey Bay
• University of the Pacific-Stockton Campus

 

            Suburban School Districts

• Indian Prairie School District
• Polk County School District
• Millard School District
• Neptune Township School District
• Santa Rosa County School District

                      

            Small School Districts/Independent Schools     

• Katonah-Lewisboro School District
• Jackson County School District
• Hampstead School District
• Western Reserve Local Schools
• Saint Andrew’s School
• Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy
• Cambridge Christian School

 

The Portolan Group has Worked with the Following Departments:

 

Finance/Budget                                         Grounds

Risk Management                                       Custodial

Human Resources                                      School Police

Maintenance                                              Labor Relations

Food Services                                           Construction/Architecture

Transportation                                           Accounting/Payroll

Instructional Facilities/Data                        Office of the Superintendent

Curriculum/Instruction                               School Improvement

 

Please email (info@portolangroup.com) or call us (1-87-PORTOLAN) for a no-cost consultation and complimentary support service department performance index of your choice.