September was the right time for the Moniteau School District to begin serious discussions about how to raise extra money needed for this year’s spring musical production, “The Wizard of Oz.”

Why it didn’t happen then is puzzling, since those in charge of the musical knew, or should have known, in mid-2011, when the school board adopted its 2011-12 budget, that the money the district would be providing would be much less than what would be needed to present the quality production envisioned.

Under this school year’s budget, only $8,000 is allocated for the musical that is expected to cost nearly $5,200 more than that — and that’s for a scaled-back version of “The Wizard.”

Under its 2010-11 budget, the district spent $15,534 for last spring’s production of “Cinderella.” But the 2010-11 fiscal year didn’t have money challenges like those caused by the state’s big 2011-12 education subsidies cutback.

Judging from the Jan. 9 school board meeting, disarray is enveloping the coming production at a time when the financial stage should already be set. In addition, the district still has unfinished business regarding production royalties, and the district doesn’t even have the date or dates for the production firmed up.

At the Jan. 9 meeting, Sue Edwards, the production’s producer, said at least 10 weeks of practice would be needed prior to the performances.

“We don’t know what participation we’ll have from the kids because we don’t know what’s going on,” Edwards said.

It’s past time for someone to assume the responsibility for gauging student interest.

But the most pressing issue at this late date revolves around having enough money to finance the musical, and no one seems to know whether adequate funds will be available.

Moniteau seems guilty of waiting for a financial miracle, but not being willing to take the initiative to help bring it about.

Had there been enough initiative, fundraisers could have been held during the first four months of the school year. Perhaps the school district could have made an appeal to area businesses and families for contributions long before now.

Those in charge of assembling the production should not have allowed a money crisis to evolve, possibly built on the presumption that, in the end, the school board would come to the rescue.

These are challenging times for all school systems. Adequate funding from the commonwealth no longer is guaranteed.

Meanwhile, a financial bailout for the production this year could establish a bad precedent regarding future expectations.

Unless Moniteau school directors cave in to the current musical funding crisis, the fate of the production seems destined to remain in limbo.

The current situation would not exist if reality had been acknowledged months ago.

What has and has not transpired at Moniteau is looking like a production of “The Boondoggle of Oz.” As of yet, the Wizard is nowhere in sight.