The business of education in many instances is the largest single enterprise in a community. Given the operation's magnitude and importance, an individual with the financial and managerial expertise to provide fiscal leadership is a vital member of the school district's management team. A School Business Administrator can assist greatly in facilitating the allocation and redirection of resources to educational programs, thereby enhancing the quality of life for all students.

Business Official Responsibilities

The responsibilities of a School Business Official are diverse, complex, subject to change and quite often vary from district to district for many reasons. The Business Official is a key member of the management team representing the Superintendent and Board of Education in the management of district financial, physical, material and human resources. The extent of interaction between Business Officials, Boards of Education, administrators, teachers, staff, parents and community is dynamic and changing. This interaction of participants must be spelled out and articulated to all stakeholders.

The following is a partial listing of responsibilities usually performed or supervised by a School Business Official:

Accounting * Human Resource Management

Auditing * Information Management

Budget Development * Insurance/Risk Management

Cash Flow Management * Investments

Collective Bargaining * Management of Business Office

Community Relations * Operations & Maintenance

Educational Facilities Planning * Payroll Management

Emergency/Disaster Planning * Purchasing/Supply Management

Financial Reporting * Records Management

Food Service * Staff Development

Grant Writing * Transportation

Business Officials Make a Difference for the Educational Program

School Business Administrators facilitate efficient operations so that resources may be invested in educational programs. A few examples may include:

A trained Business Official carefully managing a district's cash flow can maximize return on investments (even during periods of low rates of return) and minimize the need to borrow, thus saving district funds.

Cooperative purchasing efforts have saved teacher time by providing organized lists and have also resulted in considerable cost savings thereby reallocating resources to the instructional program.

School Business Officials, through collaborative efforts with other districts, BOCES, municipalities and businesses where physical and human resources are shared, can help their districts realize significant net savings in those areas.

School Business Officials across the state have developed compendia of strategies for cost savings, resulting in economies in areas such as insurance, shared purchasing, transportation and other services.

Competencies Required of School Business Officials

Successful management of the wide array of responsibilities requires a School Business Administrator to have developed a broad base of expertise - from a keen grasp of modern business practices to a clear understanding of and commitment to the instructional program. Business Officials often come from instructional backgrounds, certified public accountancy, or other areas of the business community.

Leadership and Conceptual Skills

The Business Official must possess intelligence, high ethical standards, good judgement, initiative, creative vision, commitment to educational excellence and dedication to the mission of the district.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

A Business Official must be an astute listener and effective communicator. Strong verbal and written skills will be a valuable asset in relating effectively with the Superintendent, Board of Education, administrators, teachers, other staff, parents and the community. The Business Official should play a key role in the formulation of the district's public relations and long range plans to articulate the financial needs and educational progress as well as accountability in the district.

Technical Skills

These are the everyday tools, the "how-to" necessary to achieve success in managing the district's affairs. Effective coordination of fiscal and statistical data, a knowledge of the legal and regulatory environment in changing times, and prudent management of fiscal resources are areas that can be developed with preparation and experience that need to be maintained through participation in staff development activities. These activities are often provided by the New York State Association of School Business Officials and its international and regional affiliates, as are opportunities for Business Administrators to interact among their peers sharing ideas and creative solutions to their districts' common concerns.

A Time of Change

Our Nation and State have experienced widespread change affecting children and the financial management of our schools. Among these many changes are:

• Proliferation of Federal and State instructional mandates, frequently without sufficient funding for implementation;
• Significant alteration of the make-up and the roles of parents and families has led to expectations that the schools will provide more services for children such as pre-K educational programs and specific programs for children who suffer from abuse and neglect;
• Realization that public schools must address health concerns – lead, radon, asbestos, AIDS and AEDs – placing greater economic strain on already limited financial resources;
• Calls for educational reform at all levels leading to the development of Federal initiatives such as No Child Left Behind. Additionally, the New York State Education Commissioner and Board of Regents Higher Learning Standards and other initiatives aimed at improving student performance;
• Significant economic challenges in New York which have diminished resources and, subsequently, increased taxpayer resistance to the support of education - the requirement to do more with less.

These changes and others take on greater significance when linked to the serious economic challenges this nation faces from abroad, and the realization that our schools must adapt if we are to be competitive in the world market. To accomplish this will require strong fiscal leadership to effectively manage available dollars and stimulate a new era of productivity and progress in public education.

Requirements Necessary to Become a School Business Official

The position of School Business Official is unique in New York State since individuals seeking to become Business Officials can pursue one of two options. They can qualify under Education Law by obtaining certification through the New York State Education Department or they may enter classified civil service by passing a written exam under the auspices of the local county civil service commission. It is anticipated that new, more rigorous requirements for those entering the profession will be introduced in the near future.

Further information and assistance regarding the role of a School Business Official may be obtained by contacting the office of the Executive Director of the New York State Association of School Business Officials, 7 Elk Street, Albany, NY 12207 or call (518) 434-2281. E-mail: asbomail@nysasbo.org