In this article, the author describes her journey serving in five school districts and finally becoming a business manager in her hometown in Wisconsin. Having become involved in professional organizations and working to share what she knows, she became recognized as a skilled business official and thus never had a problem finding a job or…

The definition of "retirement" is changing with the boomers, just like everything else that generation has done. Call it a new version of outsourcing. For an early career business administrator or an understaffed business office, there are jobs--often projects--that simply do not get done. The projects require time and expertise that…

Today, being sustainable means living smart. But to live smart, we need to change our behavior. This article shows how schools and school districts offer great opportunities for teaching students and staff how to live smart, therefore sustainably, all while generating savings that can be used for other, more strategic investments within the school…

When considering a new school construction project, the site selection and evaluation process is a critical step in early planning. Selecting the right site is paramount to the project and can have a major impact on the outcome of a referendum. Careful consideration and thoughtful attention to site-related issues and details can set the course not…

Business managers interact with everyone from students to support and instructional staff, to boards of education, to community members, to legislators. These stakeholders' knowledge about education trends, best practices, school finance, legal requirements, and state and federal politics varies dramatically from each other's and from those of…

The prospect of an IRS 403(b) audit can be daunting, but as the old saying goes, knowing is half the battle. Understanding what to expect during the audit process and having the proper internal controls are the keys to avoiding stress. As part of a traditional IRS 403(b) plan audit, the Internal Revenue Service has requested that plan sponsors…

The author is fairly familiar with the work dimensions of a business manager and has pretty much attended most of the professional development "how-to" sessions on everything from asset management to school budgets and beyond. When she thinks about what business managers do in schools and how much of what they do actually adds value, she…

"Oh the Places You'll Go!" That Dr. Seuss book is a standard gift for graduates as they are sent out into the world-whether it's off to college or into the world of work. "You can steer yourself any direction you choose." What direction did school business officials take to get where they are today? The most recent…

Failing to have a plan to communicate with stakeholders during the budget process is a plan to fail. Without community support, getting budget approval can be difficult. Thus, school business officials must have a plan to ensure the appropriate budget message is conveyed throughout all communication channels. In fact, a communication plan is the…

Transporting students with special needs can be a costly proposition. However, school business officials can help mitigate those costs by focusing on four specific areas: relationships, information sharing, safety, and time lines. Although these areas may seem a bit far removed from the numbers we love to crunch, they do affect your…

Districts around the country have been forced to reduce personnel and programs because sufficient funds are unavailable to maintain what are commonly referred to in education as "level service budgets." Perhaps it is time for school business officials (SBOs) to engage in serious conversations about whether K-12 public schools should place greater…

It is the best of times because there has never been a greater need for quality school business officials, but it is the worst of times because it has never been more difficult to "be" a school business official. One needs the wisdom of Solomon to balance the foolishness of greed with need. A poorly equipped negotiating team can quickly sink the…

Working effectively with stakeholders is a common challenge for school business officials (SBOs) and noninstructional school leaders. SBOs are often frustrated by unrealistic expectations and a lack of appreciation for their efforts. What's more, they are often blamed for things over which they have no control. One might blame lack of…

In hostile situations, a communicator's goal is to establish and maintain trust and credibility with the audience. School business officials need the special skills and techniques of what's known as "risk communication." Few people are natural risk communicators. Those who do it well honed their skills over many years spent in hostile…

One important effect of increasing localized autonomy, authority, responsibility, and accountability has been a growing yet understated recognition that effective business management is an essential component of educational leadership. The education business is expanding and becoming more complex and requires propitious oversight. As a result,…