/school-business-management School Business Management en-US 2021 (c) 91Ö±²¥ Tue, 14 Jan 2025 21:59:55 GMT /leadership/3-big-challenges-school-lunch-programs-face-as-they-feed-students/2025/01 School nutrition directors report problems with costs, supply shortages, and staffing. Tue, 14 Jan 2025 21:59:55 GMT /leadership/3-big-challenges-school-lunch-programs-face-as-they-feed-students/2025/01 /leadership/3-budgeting-lessons-school-administrators-learned-from-esser/2024/12 District leaders recommend maintaining a list of dream priorities and looking closely at return on investment. Fri, 13 Dec 2024 21:27:32 GMT /leadership/3-budgeting-lessons-school-administrators-learned-from-esser/2024/12 /technology/ai-has-taken-classrooms-by-storm-school-operations-could-be-next/2024/12 Generative AI tools could help schools with operational tasks like budgeting, transportation, data analysis, and even zoning. Mon, 09 Dec 2024 05:01:00 GMT /technology/ai-has-taken-classrooms-by-storm-school-operations-could-be-next/2024/12 /technology/the-transformative-potential-of-ai-6-big-questions-for-schools When it comes to artificial intelligence, thoughtful leadership at the district, school, and classroom levels is more important than ever. Mon, 09 Dec 2024 05:01:00 GMT /technology/the-transformative-potential-of-ai-6-big-questions-for-schools /leadership/schools-want-results-when-they-spend-big-money-heres-how-theyre-getting-them/2024/11 Tying spending to outcomes is a goal many district leaders have. A new model for purchase contracts could make it easier. Thu, 21 Nov 2024 22:37:44 GMT /leadership/schools-want-results-when-they-spend-big-money-heres-how-theyre-getting-them/2024/11 /leadership/opinion-we-started-running-our-school-district-like-a-business-heres-what-happened/2024/09 In education, we are focused on students, not widgets. Still, there are lessons to learn from a business mindset. Fri, 06 Sep 2024 17:09:43 GMT /leadership/opinion-we-started-running-our-school-district-like-a-business-heres-what-happened/2024/09 /politics-policy/some-school-workers-now-get-unemployment-over-the-summer-heres-how-it-works/2024/08 Districts are scrambling as some states now allow non-instructional school employees to collect summer unemployment checks. Tue, 13 Aug 2024 19:27:54 GMT /politics-policy/some-school-workers-now-get-unemployment-over-the-summer-heres-how-it-works/2024/08 /leadership/3-ways-districts-can-prepare-for-financial-woes-to-come/2024/06 ESSER dollars are expiring soon, leaving districts to get creative with resources in future years. Tue, 04 Jun 2024 19:35:11 GMT /leadership/3-ways-districts-can-prepare-for-financial-woes-to-come/2024/06 /leadership/spending-esser-funds-will-come-down-to-the-wire-for-some-districts-heres-why/2024/04 Schools have until September to commit federal relief dollars. In some cases, spending every last penny could be tricky. Fri, 05 Apr 2024 19:15:33 GMT /leadership/spending-esser-funds-will-come-down-to-the-wire-for-some-districts-heres-why/2024/04 /leadership/ozempic-and-other-pricey-drugs-cause-headaches-for-schools/2024/03 Districts are struggling to find cheap and accessible alternatives to expensive medications for staff as insurance and drug costs rise. Fri, 29 Mar 2024 18:59:11 GMT /leadership/ozempic-and-other-pricey-drugs-cause-headaches-for-schools/2024/03 /leadership/4-financial-headaches-schools-may-not-be-able-to-avoid-this-year/2024/02 Hiring challenges, new and potentially expensive state laws, and intensive audits are on the horizon. Tue, 06 Feb 2024 19:38:37 GMT /leadership/4-financial-headaches-schools-may-not-be-able-to-avoid-this-year/2024/02 /leadership/bus-contracts-the-pros-and-cons-for-school-districts-outsourcing-transportation/2023/12 Districts see more predictable costs and get valuable expertise, but high costs send some back to an in-house model. Mon, 11 Dec 2023 21:53:10 GMT /leadership/bus-contracts-the-pros-and-cons-for-school-districts-outsourcing-transportation/2023/12 /leadership/late-arrivals-steep-costs-why-some-districts-ditch-third-party-bus-companies/2023/11 Districts are facing a host of transportation challenges. Some have addressed them by deciding to bring buses back in house. Thu, 30 Nov 2023 23:03:44 GMT /leadership/late-arrivals-steep-costs-why-some-districts-ditch-third-party-bus-companies/2023/11 /leadership/how-school-districts-can-avoid-costly-mistakes-that-make-auditors-grumble/2023/10 As ESSER funds expire, districts are looking to prevent costly mistakes that have ripple effects for years. Thu, 19 Oct 2023 20:23:30 GMT /leadership/how-school-districts-can-avoid-costly-mistakes-that-make-auditors-grumble/2023/10 /technology/ai-could-save-school-districts-time-and-money-if-they-use-it-correctly/2023/08 Technology experts believe artificial intelligence tools could help districts on everything from facilities to recruitment. Thu, 10 Aug 2023 20:41:47 GMT /technology/ai-could-save-school-districts-time-and-money-if-they-use-it-correctly/2023/08 /leadership/schools-can-expect-major-disruptions-if-ups-workers-strike/2023/07 Shipments would be delayed, costs might rise, and the start of the school year could be chaotic. Mon, 24 Jul 2023 20:55:36 GMT /leadership/schools-can-expect-major-disruptions-if-ups-workers-strike/2023/07 /leadership/district-leaders-want-more-time-to-spend-esser-funds-as-plans-go-astray/2022/09 Orders aren't arriving on time. Hiring is hard. Chief financial officers want the feds to relieve the pressure. Fri, 16 Sep 2022 19:52:39 GMT /leadership/district-leaders-want-more-time-to-spend-esser-funds-as-plans-go-astray/2022/09 /leadership/what-it-takes-to-stay-on-top-of-improving-school-facilities/2022/09 Be proactive, especially with winning community support, district leaders advise. Thu, 15 Sep 2022 20:38:17 GMT /leadership/what-it-takes-to-stay-on-top-of-improving-school-facilities/2022/09 /leadership/inflation-is-putting-the-squeeze-on-schools-how-are-they-coping/2022/07 As schools get ready to welcome students back, they're paying more for food, fuel, construction materials, insurance, even paper. Fri, 22 Jul 2022 21:07:18 GMT /leadership/inflation-is-putting-the-squeeze-on-schools-how-are-they-coping/2022/07 /leadership/a-big-gap-in-k-12-leadership-prep-teaching-school-finance-skills/2022/07 More than half of prep programs in a recent review did not prepare principals to master basic financial tasks. Tue, 12 Jul 2022 19:35:54 GMT /leadership/a-big-gap-in-k-12-leadership-prep-teaching-school-finance-skills/2022/07 /leadership/schools-can-access-tons-of-money-for-electric-buses-will-they-use-it/2022/06 Electric buses are growing more appealing as fuel prices rise, but some districts remain wary of the cost and logistics. Thu, 16 Jun 2022 20:03:33 GMT /leadership/schools-can-access-tons-of-money-for-electric-buses-will-they-use-it/2022/06 /leadership/a-flood-of-federal-cash-and-then-layoffs-what-gives/2022/04 Some districts are cutting dozens of positions or scaling back programs to account for declining enrollment and inflationary pressure. Thu, 21 Apr 2022 21:51:03 GMT /leadership/a-flood-of-federal-cash-and-then-layoffs-what-gives/2022/04 /leadership/some-surprising-things-schools-might-have-to-cut-because-of-fuel-cost-increases/2022/04 A spike in transportation and delivery costs is forcing some administrators to cut classroom spending and increase school lunch prices. Wed, 13 Apr 2022 21:04:22 GMT /leadership/some-surprising-things-schools-might-have-to-cut-because-of-fuel-cost-increases/2022/04 /leadership/why-its-so-hard-for-schools-to-spend-all-that-covid-relief-money/2022/04 Slow reimbursements, confusing requirements, and meddling legislatures are just a few complications as schools face pressure to invest. Fri, 08 Apr 2022 21:41:25 GMT /leadership/why-its-so-hard-for-schools-to-spend-all-that-covid-relief-money/2022/04 /leadership/3-ways-school-districts-can-ease-the-pain-of-supply-chain-chaos/2022/01 Have a risk management plan, pay attention to what's happening up the supply chain, and be adaptable when necessary. Thu, 20 Jan 2022 20:22:14 GMT /leadership/3-ways-school-districts-can-ease-the-pain-of-supply-chain-chaos/2022/01 /technology/dont-buy-stupid-stuff-essential-advice-for-technology-purchasing/2021/07 School districts have more digital devices on their hands than ever before. Here's what they can do to get the biggest bang for their buck. Tue, 20 Jul 2021 14:50:54 GMT /technology/dont-buy-stupid-stuff-essential-advice-for-technology-purchasing/2021/07 /leadership/opinion-dont-knock-schools-for-cautious-spending/2021/06 School district leaders must navigate many complexities as they seek to invest federal recovery funds, says this letter to the editor. Tue, 01 Jun 2021 18:00:58 GMT /leadership/opinion-dont-knock-schools-for-cautious-spending/2021/06 /leadership/spending-on-special-ed-in-some-districts-plunged-this-year-budget-cuts-could-be-next/2021/05 Schools faced unprecedented challenges delivering instruction and support to students with disabilities this year—and the costs of providing those services evolved as well. Tue, 04 May 2021 20:44:15 GMT /leadership/spending-on-special-ed-in-some-districts-plunged-this-year-budget-cuts-could-be-next/2021/05 /leadership/making-decisions-is-harder-than-ever-how-district-leaders-can-manage-tough-calls/2021/04 Three superintendents discuss strategies that guide their decisionmaking process amid volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. Tue, 27 Apr 2021 20:41:12 GMT /leadership/making-decisions-is-harder-than-ever-how-district-leaders-can-manage-tough-calls/2021/04