Explores the relationship between school business officials' perceived job satisfaction and specific categories of job variables (demographics, rewards, functions, and interpersonal relationships). Results show that school business officials are a conventional group dominated by well-paid White males content with their work and committed to their…

Lists salaries and fringe benefits paid to school business officials and other administrators based on data from approximately 1,000 local school systems that comprise a stratified sample of large, medium, small, and very small school systems. Chief business officials' salaries are generally related to three variables: region of the country;…

A small sample of Ohio school board members, superintendents, principal-supervisors, and school business managers suprisingly agreed in their perceptions of real and idealized leadership behavior of the business managers. All four groups indicated very large differences between real and ideal perspectives. (SB)

Computers have a great number of potential uses at the small college. A survey of the role of software in the effective use of computers is described. Hardware characteristics, spreadsheets, purchasing or developing software, and software information are discussed. (Author/MLW)

Certification standards for the chief school business administrator exist in 17 states and 1 province. A figure provides basic information about certification. Lists state and provincial certification offices, and argues in support of the certification process as a gatekeeper to the profession. (MLF)

Presents some of the findings of a recent study that addressed the issue of finding and keeping chief school business officials. Questionnaires sent to 1,057 members of the Association of School Business Officials International elicited responses from 552 persons (52.2%). Discusses salary and benefits packages and incentives to stay. Three figures…

To increase the success rate and promote more participation in the Association of School Business Officials' Certificate of Excellence Program, last year's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFR) submitted by every third successful submitter (N=28) and all unsuccessful submitters (N=23) were examined for deficiencies. (MLF)

Discusses a "Bringing Economy and Efficiency into Purchasing" (BEEP) project in the Onteora Central School District, Boiceville (New York). The project determined that the employment of a part-time purchasing agent was economically justified for an average-sized semirural school district. (Author/MLF)

An introduction to general systems theory and an overview of vocabulary and concepts are presented to introduce school business officials to systems thinking and to foster its use as an analytical tool. The theory is then used to analyze a sample problem: planning changes to a district's administrative computer system. (eight references) (MLF)

Research verified that school business administrators generally agree with the Association of School Business Officials International and Danforth Foundation model curriculum for school business administrators. Samples of 466 school business officials, 100 superintendents, and 100 representatives from educational administration programs were…

Studies of what participants in the retirement plan of the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association-College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF) want and expect from their pension plan are summarized. The studies also sought to determine the similarities and differences in the attitudes of individual participants and participating institutions.…

Looks at the methods and findings of a national study of the supervisory responsibilities and demographic, educational, and experiential characteristics of chief business officers (CBO's) at two-year colleges. Found that the majority of CBO's were middle-aged White males, held graduate degrees, and averaged over eight years in their current…

A survey of one-third of Pennsylvania's school district superintendents and of the firms that conducted the mandated independent audits of their districts provided data revealing variables that accounted for differences in auditing costs among districts, suggesting factors that school business officials might consider when seeking cost reductions.…

The Educational Research Service's "National Survey of Salaries and Wages" reports the annual salaries and fringe benefits of chief business officials in the categories of "Assistant Superintendent" or "Director of Finance and Business." Data from approximately 1,000 reporting school systems are analyzed and…

For the past 9 years, a study conducted by the Educational Research Service has provided a consistent and reliable means for comparing local school budgets throughout the nation. Three figures and 2 tables provide summary data. The last table shows an analysis with 48 separate budget categories that administrators can use to compare their budgets.…