Financial Problems of the First Order: What Cuts to Make Before the District Runs Out of Cash

This case provides a summary of a situation in which a newly appointed superintendent and his new chief financial officer of a midsized urban school district uncover a massive set of fiscal problems which had been previously hidden from the Board and most other stakeholders. How do the district’s top leaders make decisions about how to address the issues, inform a variety of constituent groups, and determine if legal action should be considered? Teaching notes and suggested class activities are included