As a department supervisor, you have long been a believer in continuing education and training for your employees. You and two or three of your senior employees have served as instructors. At the beginning of the annual budgeting process, you learn that the next budget proposal will have to reflect austerity. Heading the list of frills (to use the VP of Finance's own words) is education. Obviously, proposals for education will be closely scrutinized.

1. Outline the approach you would propose in an effort to retain as much of your education allocation as possible.