Preparing for �FY27 Budget Development

Deerwood Academy

GO Team Business Meeting

January 2026

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Agenda

• Action Items
• Approval of Agenda 
• Approval of Previous Minutes
• 2025-2030 Strategic Plan (After discussion)
• Ranked Strategic Plan Objectives (After discussion)
• Discussion Items (add items as needed)
• Finalize 2025-2030 Strategic Plan
• 2026-2027 Strategic Objectives Ranking
• FY27 Budget Development Preparation: School Allocation (Optional)
• Information Items
• Principal’s Report
• Announcements (add items as needed)
• Public Comment (if applicable)
• Adjournment

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Action Items

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Approval of Agenda

Discussion Items

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Finalizing the 2025-2030 �School Strategic Plan��

In Our Last Meeting We…

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Reviewed Our Proposed Mission and Vision for 2025-2030

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Reviewed Our Proposed Goals for 2025-2030

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Identified Our 2025-2030 Strategic Objectives

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Today We Will…:

School Strategic Planning Process: Step 5 

Review Data

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Identify 2025-2030 Strategic Objectives

• Reflect on 2020-2025 Strategic Plan
• Review and Discuss Additional Objectives Going Forward

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Approve Your Strategic Plan & Rank Your Strategic Objectives for FY27

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Confirm 2030 Goals

• Create CIP Goals to 2030
• Identify Additional Goals

Sample GO Team Business Meeting Cadence

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Business Meeting 1:

• Review Data (MAP, GMAS, Graduation Rate, CCRPI, etc.)

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Business Meeting 2:

• Review Data (School KPIs)
• Align Mission/Vision/ Purpose
• Confirm 2030 Goals

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Business Meeting 3:

• Identify 2025-2030 Strategic Objectives

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Business Meeting 4 :

• Approve Your Strategic Plan & Rank Your Strategic Objectives for FY27

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Align Mission/Vision/Purpose

One District. One Goal. Every Child.

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• Review and Discuss your school's 2025-2030 Strategic Plan
• Action on your 2025-2030 Strategic Plan

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• Review and Discuss your 2026-2027 Strategic Plan Objective Rankings 
• Action on the 2026-2027 Strategic Plan Objective Ranking 

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Action on the �2025-2030 Strategic Plan

The GO Team needs to TAKE ACTION (vote) on its new 2025-2030 Strategic Plan.

After the motion and a second, the GO Team may have additional discussion. Once discussion is concluded, the GO Team will vote.

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Discussion

Strategic Plan Objectives Ranking

The GO Team will rank its Strategic Plan Objectives in preparation for the 2026-2027 Budget Development Process (January–March 2026).

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Use this link: https://forms.gle/vdLAXfB94utvuoMj8

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The ranked objectives will serve as budget parameters during FY27 budget discussions.  

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2026-2027 Strategic Plan Objectives Ranking

• Insert the school’s objectives from Higher to Lower

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1. Strengthen the cultivation of critical foundational math, reading and critical thinking skill instruction for continual & long-term academic growth.
2. Increase the percentage of students with disabilities earning a typical/ high on the Georgia Milestones through intentional evidence-based practices.
3. Build in systems and resources to support academic excellence for all scholars.
4. Strengthen PK-5 transdisciplinary teaching & learning through inquiry.
5. Build schoolwide systems that improve attendance and increase the number of students who attend school at least 90% of the time.
6. Increase leader and staff efficacy in strengthening the whole-school program.
7. Create a positive and supportive school culture that increases staff engagement and ownership by establishing consistent structures for collaboration, feedback, and professional growth.
8. Leverage data to drive financial decisions and investments.
9. Provide various engagement and collaboration opportunities for family awareness for instructional resources.
10. Provide consistent access to social, emotional, and behavioral growth opportunities.
11. Implement consistent PBIS practices across all settings and positive reinforcements to improve student behavior, reinforce expectations, and increase the percentage of students who feel very safe or extremely safe at school.
12. Promote enrichment opportunities to increase student engagement, growth and a sense of belonging.
13. Increase the percentage of favorable family responses related to supporting student success on the family engagement survey.

Higher

Lower

Action on the �Strategic Plan Objectives Ranking

The GO Team needs to TAKE ACTION (vote) on its ranked Strategic Plan Objectives. After the motion and a second, the GO Team may have additional discussion. Once discussion is concluded, the GO Team will vote.

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FY27 Budget Development Process:�FY27 Budget Allocation

Budget Allocation Meeting

FY26 Budget Allocation

What

During the this GO Team meeting the principal will provide an overview of the school's budget. 

Why

This meeting provides an opportunity for the principal and GO Team to ensure alignment on the school’s key strategic priorities, gain a deeper understanding of the budget and position allocations, and gather input to drive the development of the draft budget.

When

January 2026

FY27 Budget Development Process

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Principal’s Role

• Design the budget and propose operational changes that can raise student achievement
• Formulate strategies, implement and manage them at the school level
• Focus on the day-to-day operations
• Serve as the expert on the school
• Hire quality instructional and support personnel
• Collaborate with the GO Team on the use of school-level flexibility for position allocations

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The GO Team’s Role

• Focus on the big picture (positions and resources, not people)
• Ensure that the budget is aligned to the school’s mission and vision and that resources are allocated to support key strategic priorities
• Collaborate with the Principal on the use of school-level flexibility for position allocations

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FY26 Budget Allocation

Executive Summary

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FY26 Budget Allocation

School Allocation Tab Overview

FY26 Budget Allocation

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The Allocation Tab has 3 tables that show the allocations for FY27, FY26, and the Change in each area. This helps you understand how our school earned funds and positions for FY27 in comparison to FY26, and how changes in each line impact our overall school budget.

Where We’re Going

During our next meeting the principal will present the proposed FY27 Budget for feedback and discussion.

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Let the principal or the Chair know of any additional information you need for our next discussion.

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What’s Next?

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• February
• GO Team Feedback Meeting(s) February
• GO Team Takes Action (votes) on draft budget before the principal’s staffing conference (February 10)
• Associate Superintendent Review
• HR Staffing Conferences (February 23– February 27)
• March
• Final GO Team Approval Meeting- AFTER your school’s Staffing Conference and BEFORE Friday, March 13
• GO Team Takes Action (votes) on final budget recommendation before March 13 (March 3)

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FY26 Budget Allocation

Questions?

Principal’s Report

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1/28/2026

SCHOOL UPDATES

• First Winter Concert was a Success!
• SWAGG: Students Who Achieved Great Gains participated in SWAGG last Friday!
• Come out to cheer on the Deerwood Bucks! (Basketball & Cheerleaders) Feb. 4th against Dobbs at John Lewis Ms
• $5 for adults, $2 kids, 5 and under free, Employees free
• Valentine’s Dance - February 6th
• Pay $10 by Feb 5th
• Honor Ceremonies
• Grades 3 - 5: January 30th
• Grades K - 2: February 4th
• Textbook Adoption
• February 3 - 10: Family and Community Members can come out to review K-12 Math and 6 - 12 Science instructional materials at several locations. See flyer in Family Newsletter.

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5th Grade Math Receives Recognition!

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Congratulations to our 5th grade math team for their accomplishment of receiving the Math Leaders Award from State Superintendent, Mr. Richard Woods. There was a 20 point gain in math on the 2025 GA Milestones Assessment in 5th grade. Kudos to Ms. McNabb, Mrs. Stewart, Ms. Houston and Mrs. Zackery for a job well done!

Announcements

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Thank you

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