Leadership

Mobilizing Your School with Data

If you feel like you’re drowning in school data, remember: metrics aren’t strategy — and there are tools to help you make the most of it.

Jeff Shields, Chad Stacy, Spencer Taintor, Rose Neubert

Voices from the Field  

  • Facilities
  • | Leadership
  • | Research

Change Makers 12 min read

What change is worth the effort? And how to make it happen? Leaders at schools that received this year’s Jeffrey Shields Innovation in School Business Operations engage each other in their answers.
Venable LLP

Feature  

  • Legal
  • | Pandemic

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: The Legal Landscape 4 min read

Over the past 25 years, human resources issues at independent schools have grown increasingly complex. NBOA Legal Counsel Grace H. Lee charts several areas of change.

CEO Notebook  

  • Leadership
  • | Research

Mobilizing Your School with Data 3 min read

If you feel like you’re drowning in school data, remember: metrics aren’t strategy — and there are tools to help you make the most of it.
Two NBOA members

Feature  

  • Leadership
  • | Membership

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: Back to the Future 4 min read

In honor of NBOA's 25th Anniversary, NBOA members share their expectations, goals and dreams for the next generation of business office leaders.

CEO Notebook  

  • Culture
  • | Leadership
  • | Membership

BIG IDEAS for Independent School Business Innovation 5 min read

Teacher retention, shared services and an alternative school year calendar are just some of the areas that this year’s NBOA Leadership Academy cohorts researched.
hr leadership

Feature  

  • Human Resources
  • | Leadership

Indispensable HR Leadership 9 min read This item is protected.

Now more than ever, insights from HR professionals can help guide school strategy, but their voices must be heard to drive positive impact.

CEO Notebook  

  • Leadership
  • | Technology

A(I) Smarter Future? 4 min read

How can we use ChatGPT and related AI in the independent school business office?

CEO Notebook  

  • Culture
  • | Human Resources
  • | Risk Management

The Pursuit of Happiness — in Independent Schools 4 min read

Nobles Greenough School is actively helping their students be happier. What can we learn from their efforts?
stock image of audit button
  • Audit
  • | Leadership

Business Office Basics: Know Your Audit, Part 1 3 min read

Mapping your school’s trial balance to the audit’s financial statements helps both you and the audit process.
severance concept
  • Legal
  • | Regulatory Updates
  • | Termination

NLRB Guidance on Severance Agreements: What Independent Schools Need to Know 3 min read This item is protected.

Recent guidance sheds light on what's permissible in severance agreements.

CEO Notebook  

  • | Investments
  • | Leadership

Perspective: A Tool You Need To Lead 4 min read

How can we use ChatGPT and related AI in the independent school business office?
25 Years of NBOA

Feature  

  • Leadership
  • | Membership

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: Elevating the Role 12 min read

As NBOA transformed and grew over the course of its first decade, industry leaders brought expertise, innovation and a strategic vision to the organization.
investment report stock image
  • Governance
  • | Investments

Business Office Basics: The CFO’s Investment Committee Report 3 min read

Tips on sharing how the school’s portfolio has changed since the last board meeting.
Chad Stacy and Spencer Taintor
  • Leadership
  • | Membership

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: The Head of School-Business Officer Partnership 3 min read

Behind our happy-student-filled, art-covered buildings, independent schools are complex organizations, operating with dual purposes.

CEO Notebook  

  • Culture
  • | Human Resources
  • | Leadership

When Emotions Run High, It’s Time to Lead 5 min read

Group feelings can take on a life of their own, and when that happens, different strategies can help address the dynamics and move forward.
Jeff Shields and Sarah Daignault

Projections  

  • Leadership
  • | Membership

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: Reflections from the Top 9 min read

Just two people have led NBOA from the top in its 25 years. They share what leadership of the association has meant and what they see in the membership.
  • Leadership
  • | Membership

3 Takeaways from the Inspirational Suneel Gupta 5 min read

This year’s NBOA Annual Meeting opening keynote hit all the high notes — leadership, personal wellness and innovation.
image of stressed student
  • Legal
  • | Misconduct
  • | Risk Management

Revising Student Conduct Policies for a Shifting Environment 4 min read This item is protected.

With increased prevalence of mental health and sexual misconduct issues, when and how should a school intervene — and what liability may result?

CEO Notebook  

  • Culture
  • | Leadership

Authenticity Matters 4 min read

Effective leaders need not have THE answer. Instead, candor and an open mindset will help our communities thrive.
stock image of post-it note and coffee

Other Duties As Assigned  

  • Leadership
  • | Membership

Back in the Business Office 3 min read

This controller’s entry point to the independent school world was a graduate-level business office internship, which convinced her to return years later.
financial model
  • Financing
  • | Planning

Business Office Basics: The Importance of Using a Long-Range Financial Model 4 min read

The answer to some trustee questions should always be “Yes” — including, “Does the school have long-term financial projections?”
clean energy

Strategies  

  • Budget
  • | Environmental Sustainability
  • | Facilities

Creating a Clean Energy Consortium 7 min read This item is protected.

Seven independent schools and an arts education center came together to create a hydroelectric power consortium. Annual savings per school are in the tens of thousands.
firm foundations

Projections  

  • Budget
  • | Facilities

Firm Foundations Against Inflation 7 min read

School leaders are finding constructive ways to pursue capital projects despite higher materials costs, supply chain disruptions and rising interest rates.
stock image of audit button
  • Audit
  • | Budget

Business Office Basics: Know Your Audit, Part 2 5 min read

Tips on explaining to the board how the Statement of Activities relates to the operating statement, and on improving the audit note about the flow of Temporary Restricted Net Assets.
nboa member

Feature  

  • Endowment
  • | Membership

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: The Endowment Landscape 13 min read

A deep dive into independent school endowments trends FY2005-FY2022, including analysis of asset allocation, performance, spending and contributions, plus a perspective on future developments.
money image

Feature  

  • Facilities
  • | Financing

Where the Money Goes 12 min read This item is protected.

When everything costs more, considered and strategic facilities spending is a must.
school solar panels
  • Budget
  • | Environmental Sustainability
  • | Facilities

Inflation Reduction Act Opens Solar Opportunities for Schools 8 min read

The IRA opens the door for nonprofits to take advantage of tax credits associated with solar power.
stock image of audit button
  • Audit
  • | Leadership

Business Office Basics: Know Your Audit, Part 1 3 min read

Mapping your school’s trial balance to the audit’s financial statements helps both you and the audit process.

CEO Notebook  

  • | Investments
  • | Leadership

Perspective: A Tool You Need To Lead 4 min read

How can we use ChatGPT and related AI in the independent school business office?
investment report stock image
  • Governance
  • | Investments

Business Office Basics: The CFO’s Investment Committee Report 3 min read

Tips on sharing how the school’s portfolio has changed since the last board meeting.
stock image of wooden blocks on dollar bills
  • Endowment
  • | Publications
  • | Research

Independent School Endowments Down 11.3% for Fiscal 2022 3 min read

This year’s Communfund Benchmarks Study reveals the largest year-over-year reversal in average annual independent school endowment returns since the study began.
maximize cash
  • Cash Management
  • | Investments

Maximizing Interest on Cash 7 min read

While it’s prudent to have some liquid resources on hand, your school can be earning money at the same time through a variety of strategies.
  • Budget
  • | Facilities

Business Office Basics: The Annual Capital Budget & The Multi-Year Plant Renewals Schedule 4 min read

These two schedules go hand in hand – each supports the other.

Feature  

  • Boards and Trustees
  • | Budget
  • | Leadership

Strategic Financial Planning with the NBOA Heat Map 15 min read

The financial sustainability heat map has helped schools in areas from board communication to strategic planning. Here are four school’s stories.
Colorful balls balanced atop each other
  • Budget
  • | Leadership
  • | Planning

Business Office Basics: Financial Equilibrium 4 min read

A balanced budget is nice, but it is not enough.
stock image of calculator and calendar
  • Budget

Business Office Basics: Preparing Next Year’s Operating Budget for the January Board Meeting 5 min read

You can sharpen finance committee discussion using sensitivity analysis and improve your presentation to the board of trustees with a waterfall chart.

Projections  

  • Budget
  • | Financing

Today’s Price for Timeless Value 6 min read

Resist letting fears of escalating inflation hijack your tuition-setting and budget-setting conversations this school year.
stock image of two women looking at document
  • Budget
  • | Forms
  • | Planning

Business Office Basics: The Department Budget Request Form 4 min read

Distributing a budget request form in the fall will build good will across the school and give you a comprehensive view of school needs and wants.
stock art of one hundred dollar bill

Strategies  

  • Budget
  • | Enrollment

The Cost-Per-Enrollment Calculation 5 min read This item is protected.

While the calculation requires collaboration, the results can help schools achieve their goals more efficiently.
inflation concept art
  • Budget
  • | Financing
  • | Investments

Independent Schools Brace for the Headwinds of Inflation 5 min read This item is protected.

To react quickly and appropriately to new market conditions, independent schools should understand inflation trends and prepare for potential outcomes.
hr leadership

Feature  

  • Human Resources
  • | Leadership

Indispensable HR Leadership 9 min read This item is protected.

Now more than ever, insights from HR professionals can help guide school strategy, but their voices must be heard to drive positive impact.

CEO Notebook  

  • Culture
  • | Human Resources
  • | Risk Management

The Pursuit of Happiness — in Independent Schools 4 min read

Nobles Greenough School is actively helping their students be happier. What can we learn from their efforts?
severance concept
  • Legal
  • | Regulatory Updates
  • | Termination

NLRB Guidance on Severance Agreements: What Independent Schools Need to Know 3 min read This item is protected.

Recent guidance sheds light on what's permissible in severance agreements.

CEO Notebook  

  • Culture
  • | Human Resources
  • | Leadership

When Emotions Run High, It’s Time to Lead 5 min read

Group feelings can take on a life of their own, and when that happens, different strategies can help address the dynamics and move forward.
  • 403b
  • | Risk Management

SECURE 2.0 & Retirement Plans: What Independent Schools Need To Know Now 6 min read

The new law, aimed to help Americans prepare for retirement, impacts schools’ 403(b)/401(k) retirement plans, and leaders need to prepare.
JW Marriott Live
  • Membership
  • | Professional Development

1,000+ School Leaders To Learn, Network and Celebrate! at the 2023 NBOA Annual Meeting 2 min read

This year's sessions will provide insight into topics such as data visualization, diversity and inclusion, and workplace wellness.
stock image of two women supporting each other

Voices from the Field  

  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Human Resources

Critical Compassion 6 min read

Those whose work touches human resources have a special role to play in creating accessible, equitable school communities.
Stock illustration of woman in wheelchair with a tablet

Feature  

  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Human Resources

The Business Case for DEI: Making Space for Differing Abilities 8 min read This item is protected.

Reviewing practices in four key areas of operations can help staff and students with disabilities feel more at home in your school and increase the richness of the school community.

Projections  

  • Research
  • | Salary

Beyond Compensation in the Age of Inflation 6 min read

When it’s challenging for independent schools to raise salaries in line with inflation, leaders must find other ways to incentivize faculty and staff to stay.
Baton relay to signify passing off responsibilities

Feature  

  • Employee Benefits
  • | Human Resources

Is A PEO Right for Your School? 9 min read This item is protected.

PEOs can offer more options for employees and reduced workload for the business office, but schools must know what they need to make the structure work.
stock image of orange chair in sea of white chairs

Voices from the Field  

  • Leadership
  • | Professional Development

The Business Office of One 7 min read

Business officers who are their school’s sole employee in finance share the highlights, challenges and opportunities they see.

CEO Notebook  

  • Culture
  • | Human Resources
  • | Leadership

Leaders Are Not Responsible for Success. They Are Accountable for It. 5 min read

Four insights can help us meet the calls for leadership that have only been growing louder in recent years.
St. Stephen's Episcopal School

Strategies  

  • Athletics
  • | Hiring
  • | Salary

A Straight-Talking Stipend System 6 min read This item is protected.

Coaching stipends are notoriously difficult to standardize. This points-based system can help assure fair and well-reasoned compensation.

Projections  

  • Culture
  • | Employment

Show Them More Than the Money 7 min read

Increasing compensation is only one factor in teacher and staff retention. Consider how your school articulates value proposition to faculty members and listens to their concerns.
Aspen Academy student workers

Feature  

  • Employment
  • | Risk Management

All in the Family: Students on Staff 7 min read This item is protected.

The risks and rewards of putting parents and pupils on the payroll.
Couple at Porter Gaud School

Feature  

  • Employment
  • | Risk Management

All in the Family: Parents on the Payroll 13 min read This item is protected.

The risks and rewards of putting parents and pupils on the payroll.
The Downtown School
  • Enrollment
  • | Hiring

Room To Grow: Creating an Affordable Micro-School 4 min read

Lakeside School opened a no-frills micro-school that offers competitive teacher salaries and a tuition that is about half of neighboring independent schools. Lakeside School is one of three schools to receive this year's Innovation Excellence Award.
  • Membership
  • | Salary

NBOA To Launch Research on Innovative Faculty and Staff Compensation Models 3 min read

A grant from the Edward E. Ford Foundation will enable data collection and resource development to help independent schools reshape their compensation structures.
  • Employee Benefits
  • | Tax

Tax Implications of Head-of-School Compensation Packages 6 min read

Fringe benefits included in head-of-school packages may help attract strong candidates, but be aware of compliance issues.
  • Compliance
  • | Hiring
  • | Labor Law

No-Poach Agreements: Compliance and Best Practices for Independent Schools 3 min read

How Do Antitrust Laws Affect Independent Schools?
Venable LLP

Feature  

  • Legal
  • | Pandemic

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: The Legal Landscape 4 min read

Over the past 25 years, human resources issues at independent schools have grown increasingly complex. NBOA Legal Counsel Grace H. Lee charts several areas of change.
boarding schools

Feature  

  • Membership
  • | Risk Management

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: Boarding Schools and the Business Office 4 min read

A conversation with two boarding school CFOs on the challenges and opportunities for boarding schools over the past 25 years.
NBOA member with mask

Feature  

  • Membership
  • | Pandemic

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: A Pandemic Without Panic 6 min read

Business officers and business office staff played a key role in managing the onslaught of operational and financial changes brought on by the pandemic.

CEO Notebook  

  • Culture
  • | Human Resources
  • | Risk Management

The Pursuit of Happiness — in Independent Schools 4 min read

Nobles Greenough School is actively helping their students be happier. What can we learn from their efforts?
image of two women on NBOA background
  • Membership
  • | Risk Management

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: The Risk Management Landscape 3 min read

The risk landscape has changed a lot for independent schools in the past 25 years. Schools' commitment to strategic risk management has stayed constant.
image of stressed student
  • Legal
  • | Misconduct
  • | Risk Management

Revising Student Conduct Policies for a Shifting Environment 4 min read This item is protected.

With increased prevalence of mental health and sexual misconduct issues, when and how should a school intervene — and what liability may result?
  • 403b
  • | Risk Management

SECURE 2.0 & Retirement Plans: What Independent Schools Need To Know Now 6 min read

The new law, aimed to help Americans prepare for retirement, impacts schools’ 403(b)/401(k) retirement plans, and leaders need to prepare.
stock image of coins on blue background

Risk & Compliance  

  • Legal
  • | Risk Management

Why Is Insurance More Expensive? 7 min read

Social inflation is changing the liability landscape. Understanding it can help your school manage the costs.
tempered glass
  • Crisis Management
  • | Safety and Security

Three Common Myths in School Security Planning 5 min read This item is protected.

With school shootings at record high, it’s important to identify common safety and security myths and the truths that make a difference in school decision-making.
Students visiting Puerto Rico in June 2022. Photo courtesy of GEBG.

Risk & Compliance  

  • Risk Management
  • | Trips

COVID-Era Learning in the Field 6 min read This item is protected.

Schools weigh in on the challenges and opportunities of returning to off-campus travel this school year.

CEO Notebook  

  • Cybersecurity
  • | Risk Management

Your School’s Cyber Risk Management Requires Teamwork 3 min read

As cyber threats to K12 schools escalate, NBOA and ATLIS have issued updated guidance on cyber insurance to reflect the critical collaboration behind effective management.
firewall concept stock image

Feature  

  • Risk Management
  • | Technology

After the Firewall Falls 12 min read This item is protected.

When a school experiences a cyber breach, a well-conceived communications plan can go a long way towards building community trust.

CEO Notebook  

  • Legal
  • | Risk Management

Defending Our Independence 6 min read

If courts deem that independent schools receive federal funds simply due to our tax-exempt status, are we truly independent anymore?

Risk & Compliance  

  • Crisis Management
  • | Risk Management

An Evolving Risk Registry 6 min read This item is protected.

A quantitative approach to risk assessment can help schools in devising more effective risk treatments and tracking risk responses across time.
Aspen Academy student workers

Feature  

  • Employment
  • | Risk Management

All in the Family: Students on Staff 7 min read This item is protected.

The risks and rewards of putting parents and pupils on the payroll.
Couple at Porter Gaud School

Feature  

  • Employment
  • | Risk Management

All in the Family: Parents on the Payroll 13 min read This item is protected.

The risks and rewards of putting parents and pupils on the payroll.
Stock Bitcoins falling

Strategies  

  • Investments
  • | Policy
  • | Risk Management

Developing a Cryptocurrency Policy 3 min read This item is protected.

Accepting cryptocurrency is relatively straightforward, but holding it requires careful consideration.
student abuse prevention
  • Legal
  • | Risk Management

Risk & Compliance: Student-on-Student Harassment and Abuse 6 min read

What schools need to know about legal considerations, crafting effective policies, and creating a culture that prevents incidents.
https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NBOA/UploadedImages/XwL9Vk6VSTerT6tZqfC6_air%20purifier.png
  • Facilities
  • | Pandemic

Using Pandemic-Related Government Funding To Purchase Portable Air Purifiers 4 min read

Investing in commercial grade air purifying systems can help protect your school’s “danger zones” — from cafeterias to locker rooms to the nurse’s office.
  • Compliance
  • | Hiring
  • | Labor Law

No-Poach Agreements: Compliance and Best Practices for Independent Schools 3 min read

How Do Antitrust Laws Affect Independent Schools?
Jeff Shields, Chad Stacy, Spencer Taintor, Rose Neubert

Voices from the Field  

  • Facilities
  • | Leadership
  • | Research

Change Makers 12 min read

What change is worth the effort? And how to make it happen? Leaders at schools that received this year’s Jeffrey Shields Innovation in School Business Operations engage each other in their answers.
clean energy

Strategies  

  • Budget
  • | Environmental Sustainability
  • | Facilities

Creating a Clean Energy Consortium 7 min read This item is protected.

Seven independent schools and an arts education center came together to create a hydroelectric power consortium. Annual savings per school are in the tens of thousands.
firm foundations

Projections  

  • Budget
  • | Facilities

Firm Foundations Against Inflation 7 min read

School leaders are finding constructive ways to pursue capital projects despite higher materials costs, supply chain disruptions and rising interest rates.
diversity inclusion stock image
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Technology

Tech-Enabled DEI Solutions 3 min read

Independent schools can operationalize their DEI goals using technology.
School campus with students

Feature  

  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Facilities

The Business Case for DEI: Accessible, Affordable Facilities 13 min read This item is protected.

Investing in accessible facilities goes beyond compliance for most schools — and can have unexpected dividends.

CEO Notebook  

  • Leadership
  • | Technology

A(I) Smarter Future? 4 min read

How can we use ChatGPT and related AI in the independent school business office?
money image

Feature  

  • Facilities
  • | Financing

Where the Money Goes 12 min read This item is protected.

When everything costs more, considered and strategic facilities spending is a must.
school solar panels
  • Budget
  • | Environmental Sustainability
  • | Facilities

Inflation Reduction Act Opens Solar Opportunities for Schools 8 min read

The IRA opens the door for nonprofits to take advantage of tax credits associated with solar power.
nboa members

Feature  

  • Membership
  • | Technology

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: Technology and the Business Office 3 min read

The rise of the internet has given way to rapid technological advances in the business office.
facilities landscape

Feature  

  • Facilities
  • | Membership

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: The Facilities Landscape 3 min read

For most educational institutions, mission and vision are inextricably linked to buildings.
  • Budget
  • | Facilities

Business Office Basics: The Annual Capital Budget & The Multi-Year Plant Renewals Schedule 4 min read

These two schedules go hand in hand – each supports the other.
Saint Mark’s Episcopal School students

Strategies  

  • Facilities
  • | Maintenance

Never Let a Deferred Maintenance Project Go to Waste 5 min read This item is protected.

When this South Florida school needed to replace an aging sea wall, it became an opportunity for enhanced student learning and community impact.
tempered glass
  • Crisis Management
  • | Safety and Security

Three Common Myths in School Security Planning 5 min read This item is protected.

With school shootings at record high, it’s important to identify common safety and security myths and the truths that make a difference in school decision-making.

CEO Notebook  

  • Cybersecurity
  • | Risk Management

Your School’s Cyber Risk Management Requires Teamwork 3 min read

As cyber threats to K12 schools escalate, NBOA and ATLIS have issued updated guidance on cyber insurance to reflect the critical collaboration behind effective management.
  • Facilities
  • | Planning

Wellness by Design: Ideas and Actions for a Healthier Campus 7 min read

To help combat adolescent stress and to give both students and staff a breather, schools are investing in school wellness centers that emphasize connectedness.

Projections  

  • Cybersecurity
  • | Technology

Inescapable Changes in Cybersecurity 6 min read

Cyber insurance was once a simple and inexpensive add-on to basic coverage. Now it’s a complicated and essential piece of any comprehensive plan.
firewall concept stock image

Feature  

  • Risk Management
  • | Technology

After the Firewall Falls 12 min read This item is protected.

When a school experiences a cyber breach, a well-conceived communications plan can go a long way towards building community trust.
cultural digital accessibility
  • Culture
  • | Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Technology

The Business Case for DEI: Digital Accessibility: Operational and Cultural Considerations 7 min read This item is protected.

When those overseeing physical and digital accommodations work together, the impact on school culture is stronger and more inclusive.
legal considerations

Feature  

  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Legal
  • | Technology

The Business Case for DEI: Digital Accessibility: Legal Considerations 10 min read This item is protected.

Recent ADA guidance puts new emphasis on making websites and digital assets accessible to all.
technology stack concept art
  • Enrollment
  • | Technology

Rethinking the Advancement Tech Stack 5 min read

Advancement teams are drowning in software, but it’s often de-centralized and doesn’t always meet every need. Is your school’s advancement tech stack moving you forward or holding you back?
stock illustration of regional map

Business Intelligence  

  • Enrollment
  • | Research
  • | Tuition

A Regional View of the Financial State of the Industry 5 min read This item is protected.

A school’s location can play a role in their financial operations.
advancement

Feature  

  • Enrollment
  • | Membership

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: Advancement and the Business Office 3 min read

A strong partnership between the chief business officer and chief advancement officer leads to better outcomes in all areas of school business, from tuition revenue to planned giving.
NBOA members
  • International
  • | Membership

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: Global Growth 8 min read

Though NBOA has had schools outside the U.S. in its membership from very early days, the mid-2010s marked a period of growth for the organization’s international member base.
stock image of coins and wooden blocks

Business Intelligence  

  • Financial Aid
  • | Tuition

Tuition Discounting in Context 4 min read This item is protected.

Data on discounting in terms of need, remission and other related data points by tuition levels.
Front of The Northwest School

Feature  

  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Financial Aid

Economic Affinity Groups and Inclusion Efforts: A Case Study 7 min read This item is protected.

Two schools share strategies for improving socioeconomic inclusion through voluntary, community-led programs and innovative fundraising efforts.
Stock image of miniature wooden houses

Feature  

  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Enrollment

The Business Case for DEI: The Business of Economic Diversity 12 min read This item is protected.

Those in the business office have a distinct role to play in supporting economic diversity and inclusion efforts.
stock art of one hundred dollar bill

Strategies  

  • Budget
  • | Enrollment

The Cost-Per-Enrollment Calculation 5 min read This item is protected.

While the calculation requires collaboration, the results can help schools achieve their goals more efficiently.
Groton School students

Feature  

  • Enrollment
  • | Financial Aid
  • | Tuition

Balancing Out the Barbell 14 min read This item is protected.

Four schools detail how they have enrolled students from the full range of family incomes — and the impacts on both school finance and culture.
The University of Southern California admissions staff in 1992.

Other Duties As Assigned  

  • Admission
  • | Leadership

Beyond Gatekeeping 6 min read

Once an admissions “roadrunner,” this leading enrollment officer continually evolved in her role as the field did the same.
stock art of seesaw

Business Intelligence  

  • Research
  • | Tuition

How Tuition-Reliant Is Your School? 3 min read This item is protected.

Benchmark and assess school finances using this metric: percentage of school operating expenses covered by net tuition and fees.
The Branson School campus

Feature  

  • Communication
  • | Leadership

The Collaboration Conversation 9 min read This item is protected.

Three business officers in Northern California banded together to improve transportation for their schools. Now a larger group of 20 is considering solutions across the business office.
technology stack concept art
  • Enrollment
  • | Technology

Rethinking the Advancement Tech Stack 5 min read

Advancement teams are drowning in software, but it’s often de-centralized and doesn’t always meet every need. Is your school’s advancement tech stack moving you forward or holding you back?
Glendinning students playing soccer

Feature  

  • Enrollment
  • | Financial Aid
  • | Tuition

NTR FTW (For the Win): A Case Study 14 min read This item is protected.

Implementing a net tuition revenue model and reconceptualizing financial aid helped Moses Brown School return to full enrollment.
The Downtown School
  • Enrollment
  • | Hiring

Room To Grow: Creating an Affordable Micro-School 4 min read

Lakeside School opened a no-frills micro-school that offers competitive teacher salaries and a tuition that is about half of neighboring independent schools. Lakeside School is one of three schools to receive this year's Innovation Excellence Award.
Elementary students in tinker lab at Bennett Day School
  • Change Management
  • | Enrollment

Room To Grow: Learning Labs as External Revenue Streams 5 min read

Bennett Day School developed a project-based learning lab that has helped generate non-tuition revenue and expand its PK-12 program. Bennett Day is one of three schools to receive this year's Innovation Excellence Award.
  • Cash Management
  • | Financial Aid

Business Intelligence: Pandemic Predictions and Outcomes in School Finance 4 min read

Mid–2020, business officers predicted a bumpier outcome for FY21 than came to pass. Deficits and cash draws were smaller, while aid awards were higher.
  • Enrollment
  • | Technology

Engaging Online Learners for Greater Financial Sustainability 4 min read

Expanding online curriculum can also promote on-campus engagement opportunities.
  • Enrollment
  • | Leadership

The Possibilities of Partnerships 4 min read

Be it with a local college or business, a partnership may enable your school to offer distinctive opportunities that enhance value proposition and/or develop new revenue streams.
Krempley Preschool Pipeline MA22.jpeg
  • Enrollment

Building a Preschool Pipeline 12 min read This item is protected.

Investing in early childhood programs can help build enrollment, but the effort requires significant management and resources.
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Business Intelligence  

  • Enrollment
  • | Financing
  • | Salary

Business Intelligence: Fewer Students and More Staff Signal New Paradigms 4 min read

While enrollment has declined slightly over the past few years, staffing has increased. How can schools offset increased costs?
diversity inclusion stock image
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Technology

Tech-Enabled DEI Solutions 3 min read

Independent schools can operationalize their DEI goals using technology.
School campus with students

Feature  

  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Facilities

The Business Case for DEI: Accessible, Affordable Facilities 13 min read This item is protected.

Investing in accessible facilities goes beyond compliance for most schools — and can have unexpected dividends.
Celebrate NBOA logo image
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Membership

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: Who Was at the Table? 8 min read

NBOA explores how efforts centered around inclusion and belonging within a diverse workforce have impacted the association and its members over the past 25 years.
stock image of two women supporting each other

Voices from the Field  

  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Human Resources

Critical Compassion 6 min read

Those whose work touches human resources have a special role to play in creating accessible, equitable school communities.
Stock illustration of woman in wheelchair with a tablet

Feature  

  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Human Resources

The Business Case for DEI: Making Space for Differing Abilities 8 min read This item is protected.

Reviewing practices in four key areas of operations can help staff and students with disabilities feel more at home in your school and increase the richness of the school community.
Front of The Northwest School

Feature  

  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Financial Aid

Economic Affinity Groups and Inclusion Efforts: A Case Study 7 min read This item is protected.

Two schools share strategies for improving socioeconomic inclusion through voluntary, community-led programs and innovative fundraising efforts.
Stock image of miniature wooden houses

Feature  

  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Enrollment

The Business Case for DEI: The Business of Economic Diversity 12 min read This item is protected.

Those in the business office have a distinct role to play in supporting economic diversity and inclusion efforts.
cultural digital accessibility
  • Culture
  • | Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Technology

The Business Case for DEI: Digital Accessibility: Operational and Cultural Considerations 7 min read This item is protected.

When those overseeing physical and digital accommodations work together, the impact on school culture is stronger and more inclusive.
legal considerations

Feature  

  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Legal
  • | Technology

The Business Case for DEI: Digital Accessibility: Legal Considerations 10 min read This item is protected.

Recent ADA guidance puts new emphasis on making websites and digital assets accessible to all.

Feature  

  • Culture
  • | Diversity and Inclusion

The Business Case for DEI: Structural Solutions 17 min read

Business officers are helping schools move beyond aspirational goals toward real change.

CEO Notebook  

  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Leadership

Bring Your Whole Self to Work, and Others Will Too 4 min read

As school leaders face another summer of employee “churn,” it is essential to ensure everyone feels comfortable in the school community to improve their chances of retention.
Stock image people in rainbow colors

Voices from the Field  

  • Culture
  • | Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Membership

LGBTQ+ Leaders in the Business Office 8 min read

Initial insights into different experiences in the independent school business office.
Miss Porter's School students
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Endowment

Room to Grow: Becoming an Anti-Racist Institution 4 min read

Miss Porter’s School has leveraged its large endowment and operating budget to challenge systemic racism. Miss Porter's is one of three schools to receive this year's Innovation Excellence Award.
https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NBOA/UploadedImages/p9haQI0QXKDnOVJO1fk3_leaders%20of%20color.png
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Leadership

Voices from the Field: Leaders of Color in Independent Schools 6 min read

Four business officers offer initial insights into diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and their experiences at their schools.
https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NBOA/UploadedImages/scYwxQE8RKq0PdWfxlPN_Crossroads%20Jacobs%20JF22.jpeg
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Hiring
  • | Human Resources

Hiring at the Cultural Crossroads 14 min read This item is protected.

Despite significant changes in hiring processes over the past year, implicit bias remains. It can be mitigated.

Risk & Compliance  

  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Hiring
  • | Human Resources

Risk & Compliance: Diverse Hiring Practices Without Discrimination 6 min read

Make sure your school’s best efforts don’t run afoul of anti-discrimination laws.
https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NBOA/UploadedImages/aiQ5uYMPSlOK4PqSdp6k_derrick%20gay.png
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Leadership

2022 NBOA Annual Meeting: Foundations for Engagement: Derrick Gay 5 min read

To bring more constituents on board with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, NBOA Breakfast speaker Derrick Gay urges schools to consider the efforts in terms of change management.
https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NBOA/UploadedImages/nfHOGK9RjSCYwI2iIy6j_Jade%20Simmons%20(1).png
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Leadership

2022 NBOA Annual Meeting: Capacity for Audacity: Jade Simmons 8 min read

Renowned pianist and opening keynote speaker Jade Simmons explains how everyone can bring creativity into the workplace.

CEO Notebook  

  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Leadership

When Politics Knocks, Answer with Mission 4 min read

Our schools’ missions and values are being put to the test. They should be our guide as we navigate contentious times. 
https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NBOA/UploadedImages/c781eb1f-9fca-4408-b2f8-9bceec57f0af/NetAssets/2021/08/dei_transformation.png
  • Change Management
  • | Diversity and Inclusion

DEI Transformation 10 min read This item is protected.

How to build consensus, maintain energy and remain mission-aligned when your school faces questions regarding its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
Two NBOA members

Feature  

  • Leadership
  • | Membership

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: Back to the Future 4 min read

In honor of NBOA's 25th Anniversary, NBOA members share their expectations, goals and dreams for the next generation of business office leaders.

CEO Notebook  

  • Culture
  • | Leadership
  • | Membership

BIG IDEAS for Independent School Business Innovation 5 min read

Teacher retention, shared services and an alternative school year calendar are just some of the areas that this year’s NBOA Leadership Academy cohorts researched.
nboa member

Feature  

  • Endowment
  • | Membership

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: The Endowment Landscape 13 min read

A deep dive into independent school endowments trends FY2005-FY2022, including analysis of asset allocation, performance, spending and contributions, plus a perspective on future developments.
boarding schools

Feature  

  • Membership
  • | Risk Management

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: Boarding Schools and the Business Office 4 min read

A conversation with two boarding school CFOs on the challenges and opportunities for boarding schools over the past 25 years.
NBOA member with mask

Feature  

  • Membership
  • | Pandemic

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: A Pandemic Without Panic 6 min read

Business officers and business office staff played a key role in managing the onslaught of operational and financial changes brought on by the pandemic.
advancement

Feature  

  • Enrollment
  • | Membership

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: Advancement and the Business Office 3 min read

A strong partnership between the chief business officer and chief advancement officer leads to better outcomes in all areas of school business, from tuition revenue to planned giving.
NBOA members
  • International
  • | Membership

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: Global Growth 8 min read

Though NBOA has had schools outside the U.S. in its membership from very early days, the mid-2010s marked a period of growth for the organization’s international member base.
nboa members

Feature  

  • Membership
  • | Technology

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: Technology and the Business Office 3 min read

The rise of the internet has given way to rapid technological advances in the business office.
facilities landscape

Feature  

  • Facilities
  • | Membership

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: The Facilities Landscape 3 min read

For most educational institutions, mission and vision are inextricably linked to buildings.
25 Years of NBOA

Feature  

  • Leadership
  • | Membership

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: Elevating the Role 12 min read

As NBOA transformed and grew over the course of its first decade, industry leaders brought expertise, innovation and a strategic vision to the organization.
Chad Stacy and Spencer Taintor
  • Leadership
  • | Membership

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: The Head of School-Business Officer Partnership 3 min read

Behind our happy-student-filled, art-covered buildings, independent schools are complex organizations, operating with dual purposes.
image of two women on NBOA background
  • Membership
  • | Risk Management

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: The Risk Management Landscape 3 min read

The risk landscape has changed a lot for independent schools in the past 25 years. Schools' commitment to strategic risk management has stayed constant.
Celebrate NBOA logo image
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Membership

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: Who Was at the Table? 8 min read

NBOA explores how efforts centered around inclusion and belonging within a diverse workforce have impacted the association and its members over the past 25 years.

Feature  

  • Membership

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: Origin Story 10 min read

This year, we celebrate our community, our contributions, our growth as a profession and our potential.
Jeff Shields and Sarah Daignault

Projections  

  • Leadership
  • | Membership

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: Reflections from the Top 9 min read

Just two people have led NBOA from the top in its 25 years. They share what leadership of the association has meant and what they see in the membership.
  • Leadership
  • | Membership

3 Takeaways from the Inspirational Suneel Gupta 5 min read

This year’s NBOA Annual Meeting opening keynote hit all the high notes — leadership, personal wellness and innovation.
Photo of the NBOA 2023 Annual Meeting event lobby
  • Membership

NBOA Annual Meeting Returns to Form 2 min read

Nearly 1,200 gathered to glean practical insights, soak up inspiration and partake in unmatched networking.
JW Marriott Live
  • Membership
  • | Professional Development

1,000+ School Leaders To Learn, Network and Celebrate! at the 2023 NBOA Annual Meeting 2 min read

This year's sessions will provide insight into topics such as data visualization, diversity and inclusion, and workplace wellness.

Business Intelligence  

  • Membership
  • | Research

You Asked, We Answered—with BIIS Data 4 min read This item is protected.

NBOA’s BIIS can help shed a light on the value of interest and investment income, business officer salaries and more.
stock image of post-it note and coffee

Other Duties As Assigned  

  • Leadership
  • | Membership

Back in the Business Office 3 min read

This controller’s entry point to the independent school world was a graduate-level business office internship, which convinced her to return years later.
financial model
  • Financing
  • | Planning

Business Office Basics: The Importance of Using a Long-Range Financial Model 4 min read

The answer to some trustee questions should always be “Yes” — including, “Does the school have long-term financial projections?”
Jeff Shields, Chad Stacy, Spencer Taintor, Rose Neubert

Voices from the Field  

  • Facilities
  • | Leadership
  • | Research

Change Makers 12 min read

What change is worth the effort? And how to make it happen? Leaders at schools that received this year’s Jeffrey Shields Innovation in School Business Operations engage each other in their answers.
Venable LLP

Feature  

  • Legal
  • | Pandemic

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: The Legal Landscape 4 min read

Over the past 25 years, human resources issues at independent schools have grown increasingly complex. NBOA Legal Counsel Grace H. Lee charts several areas of change.

CEO Notebook  

  • Leadership
  • | Research

Mobilizing Your School with Data 3 min read

If you feel like you’re drowning in school data, remember: metrics aren’t strategy — and there are tools to help you make the most of it.
stock illustration of regional map

Business Intelligence  

  • Enrollment
  • | Research
  • | Tuition

A Regional View of the Financial State of the Industry 5 min read This item is protected.

A school’s location can play a role in their financial operations.
clean energy

Strategies  

  • Budget
  • | Environmental Sustainability
  • | Facilities

Creating a Clean Energy Consortium 7 min read This item is protected.

Seven independent schools and an arts education center came together to create a hydroelectric power consortium. Annual savings per school are in the tens of thousands.
Two NBOA members

Feature  

  • Leadership
  • | Membership

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: Back to the Future 4 min read

In honor of NBOA's 25th Anniversary, NBOA members share their expectations, goals and dreams for the next generation of business office leaders.
firm foundations

Projections  

  • Budget
  • | Facilities

Firm Foundations Against Inflation 7 min read

School leaders are finding constructive ways to pursue capital projects despite higher materials costs, supply chain disruptions and rising interest rates.

CEO Notebook  

  • Culture
  • | Leadership
  • | Membership

BIG IDEAS for Independent School Business Innovation 5 min read

Teacher retention, shared services and an alternative school year calendar are just some of the areas that this year’s NBOA Leadership Academy cohorts researched.
hr leadership

Feature  

  • Human Resources
  • | Leadership

Indispensable HR Leadership 9 min read This item is protected.

Now more than ever, insights from HR professionals can help guide school strategy, but their voices must be heard to drive positive impact.
diversity inclusion stock image
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Technology

Tech-Enabled DEI Solutions 3 min read

Independent schools can operationalize their DEI goals using technology.
stock image of audit button
  • Audit
  • | Budget

Business Office Basics: Know Your Audit, Part 2 5 min read

Tips on explaining to the board how the Statement of Activities relates to the operating statement, and on improving the audit note about the flow of Temporary Restricted Net Assets.
School campus with students

Feature  

  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Facilities

The Business Case for DEI: Accessible, Affordable Facilities 13 min read This item is protected.

Investing in accessible facilities goes beyond compliance for most schools — and can have unexpected dividends.
nboa member

Feature  

  • Endowment
  • | Membership

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: The Endowment Landscape 13 min read

A deep dive into independent school endowments trends FY2005-FY2022, including analysis of asset allocation, performance, spending and contributions, plus a perspective on future developments.

CEO Notebook  

  • Leadership
  • | Technology

A(I) Smarter Future? 4 min read

How can we use ChatGPT and related AI in the independent school business office?
money image

Feature  

  • Facilities
  • | Financing

Where the Money Goes 12 min read This item is protected.

When everything costs more, considered and strategic facilities spending is a must.
school solar panels
  • Budget
  • | Environmental Sustainability
  • | Facilities

Inflation Reduction Act Opens Solar Opportunities for Schools 8 min read

The IRA opens the door for nonprofits to take advantage of tax credits associated with solar power.
boarding schools

Feature  

  • Membership
  • | Risk Management

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: Boarding Schools and the Business Office 4 min read

A conversation with two boarding school CFOs on the challenges and opportunities for boarding schools over the past 25 years.
NBOA member with mask

Feature  

  • Membership
  • | Pandemic

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: A Pandemic Without Panic 6 min read

Business officers and business office staff played a key role in managing the onslaught of operational and financial changes brought on by the pandemic.
advancement

Feature  

  • Enrollment
  • | Membership

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: Advancement and the Business Office 3 min read

A strong partnership between the chief business officer and chief advancement officer leads to better outcomes in all areas of school business, from tuition revenue to planned giving.

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