Oakland Schools District Service Report 2012

what we do for DISTRICTS
Oakland Schools takes
accountability seriously
As an intermediate school district, much of what we do is mandated by
federal or state laws with built-in reporting requirements. In addition to
these requirements, Oakland Schools also communicates regularly with
referent groups and associations to ensure that stakeholders are made aware
of the services, resources, and assistance provided for the funding we receive.
These include:
• An annual budget meeting with school board designates and
superintendents who review the Oakland Schools budget and pass
resolutions at the local district level regarding support for the General
Fund budget as presented.
• Referent groups such as the Oakland County Superintendents
Association, Oakland County School Boards Association, Oakland
County School Business Officials, Oakland County Teaching & Learning
Council, and many others.
• A countywide Special Education Parent Advisory Council (PAC) who meets
regularly to provide input on Special Education issues and review the ISD Special
Education plan.
• A countywide Education Advisory Group made up of community and business
leaders for Career Focused Education.
• A regular update to the Oakland Schools Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP)
that includes organizational goals, activities to accomplish those goals, and
progress measures.
• Independent financial audits of the Oakland Schools revenues and expenditures
that are reported to the Oakland Schools Board of Education and shared with the
local districts we serve.
• Ongoing reporting to the Michigan Department of Education to ensure
compliance.
• Annual publication and website posting of our ISD Annual Report and the
Budget and Salary/Compensation Transparency Reporting.
$Oakland Schools returned 96.6 cents of every
dollar to local districts through direct services
in 2011-2012.
Recipient of
Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting for
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
from the Association of School Business Officials
Fiscal Years 1996-2001, 2003-2011
Oakland Schools finances
Oakland Schools is financed by Oakland County taxpayers through an annual
authorized property tax millage. The combined millage rate for 2011-2012 was
3.3690 mills. Oakland Schools operates using three major funds:
• General Education Fund funds instructional and administrative support for
districts and obtains its revenue largely from a property tax levy. Oakland Schools
was authorized to collect 0.2003 of a mill on the county tax base for 2011-2012.
• Special Education Fund was supported by a tax of 2.5456 mills levied on
the county tax base for 2011-2012. This fund supports Special Education
administration, student services, educational consulting services at Oakland
Schools and center programs in local districts.
• Career Focused Education Fund was supported primarily by a levy of 0.6231
on the Oakland County tax base in 2011-2012. This fund supports Vocational
Technical Education administration, the four Oakland Schools Technical
Campuses that serve students from all 28 local school districts, and the CFE
Regional Plan.
• In addition to the three major funds, grants are actively sought to defray costs of
regional projects. Oakland Schools serves as the fiscal agent for many such grants
that fund ongoing and pilot projects for the benefit of Oakland County students.
2011-2012 District Service Report • October 2012 7