Another way that school districts can be more accountable is to put their expenditures online in an easily accessed, searchable form.
I believe that permitting the public to view the inner financial workings of a school district helps build trust between the district and the community.
Across the state and the nation, many school districts post this information online. Sometimes it is merely a monthly spreadsheet. Sometimes it is a searchable portal (sometimes referred to as an “online checkbook”).
Some states even include school district information on their state accountability portals.
Missouri has a user friendly, searchable accountability portal, and allows municipalities and counties to participate. That site can be found here:
https://mapyourtaxes.mo.gov/MAP/Portal/Default.aspx
I am advocating that the Columbia Public Schools put its expenditure information online in user friendly, searchable accountability portal.
