The development and testing of a budgeting model to predict the cost to a school district to meet the national standards for collections of audiovisual equipment

This study attempted to develop a budgeting model to estimate the costs for future audiovisual equipment acquisitions to maintain an effective program of media services in a school district. To accomplish this goal, a prototype model was developed that considered the amount of equipment specified by the 1975 Standards of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT), the life expectancy of equipment, expected future price increases, and the elements in the school system that would impact on the demand for audiovisual equipment. These factors along with the expected outputs were reviewed by three media directors for validity. Their comments along with the prototype model were used to develop computer programs to operationalize the Projected Budget and Maintenance Expenditures Model (PBMEM).;Using data from three school systems, PBMEM generated output in the form of projected budgets over a 30 year period that was evaluated by five media directors. The directors commented on the usefulness of the output in helping them generate funding requests and on the acceptability of the projected expenditures. All five of the directors felt that the output would be helpful in developing funding requests. The projected expenditures were considered acceptable by three, too high by one, and of indeterminate value by one.;Finally, three school administrators reviewed the output. Two felt that the data would help the directors make a case for funding. The other administrator disagreed with PBMEM's assumption of incremental steps toward standard, preferring one large purchase.;It was concluded that PBMEM met the test of feasibility and face validity. Modifications to improve the utility of the model are suggested.