Never is the "tone at the top" more important than during times of economic distress. With an unprecedented number of state and local governments struggling to balance the budget, facing staggering operational cost increases, and even laying off employees, executive management and boards throughout the country are challenged to foster a positive, transparent, and accountable organizational culture. The question is, when will be the right time to do the right thing, and what will it take? School business administrators can and should create an ethical, transparent, and accountable culture--one that centers on doing the right thing. This article offers some tips for achieving that goal.