Net Assets

Communication

Optimized, Optimistic Operations & Outcomes

How to create efficiency and effectiveness using the Entrepreneurial Operating System.

Governance

Transitioning to a Cloud-Based Student Information System

Strategies

Change Management
| Technology

Transitioning to a Cloud-Based Student Information System 4 min read This item is protected.

Data utilization and information management improved significantly thanks to marketing and technology leaders’ collaboration.

Voices from the Field

Governance
| Research

From Numbers to Narratives 10 min read This item is protected.

Institutional research can uncover critical trends and help schools get ahead of potential issues. Eric Heilman shares how schools might get started.

Feature

Communication
| Leadership

Optimized, Optimistic Operations & Outcomes 11 min read This item is protected.

How to create efficiency and effectiveness using the Entrepreneurial Operating System.

CEO Notebook

Human Resources
| Leadership

Winning Buy-In for a Better Year 3 min read

With a focus on impact now, we’ll conclude this new school year with a real sense of accomplishment.

Feature

Accounting
| Audit
| Legal
| Technology

DIY AI: Business Applications (Part 2) 13 min read This item is protected.

AI has never been more accessible, and it will impact every corner of the independent school business office.

Culture
| Technology

Data Tracking That Advances School Culture 6 min read

Faculty and staff who are empowered to leverage data can tailor interventions and foster a more supportive and inclusive learning environment.

CEO Notebook

Culture
| Leadership

Leading The Ted Lasso Way 4 min read

Mastering the art of optimism can empower leaders to inspire their teams, navigate challenges with grace and forge a forward-looking organizational culture.

Feature

Change Management
| Leadership
| Technology

DIY AI: Key Considerations (Part 1) 13 min read This item is protected.

AI has never been more accessible, and it will impact every corner of the independent school business office.

Leadership
| Membership

Unsung Hero: Howard Richmond, Krieger Schechter Day School 2 min read

With a commitment to process management, Howard's financial stewardship paved the way for lasting improvements at Krieger Schechter Day School.

Other Duties As Assigned

Culture
| Membership

No Child Left Inside 4 min read

This business officer has helped lead more than 100 outdoor trips for students, from cross-country skiing to mountain biking to backpacking.

CEO Notebook

Leadership

I Swam with a Shark — and Returned Invigorated 4 min read

Shark Tank star and entrepreneur Daymond John can inspire all of us to be better leaders.

Voices from the Field

Leadership
| Membership

End Games 7 min read

Long-time business officers share how they chose to wrap up their careers.

Feature

Boards and Trustees
| Diversity and Inclusion
| Leadership

The Business Case for DEI: Supporting the Board’s DEI Goals 12 min read This item is protected.

Tracking data, assessing vendors and working with the investment committee are just a few ways business officers can play a role in board level DEI work.

Strategies

Boards and Trustees
| Budget

A Snapshot of School Finances 5 min read This item is protected.

This one-pager provides trustees with the information they need to spend their time together on strategy.

CEO Notebook

Culture
| Leadership

Meetings and Greetings with Purpose 5 min read

8 takeaways to make your gatherings — be it a staff meeting, board retreat or birthday celebration — more meaningful.

Feature

Human Resources
| Leadership

Riding the Waves: Managing Risk in the Mental Health Crisis: Staff 12 min read This item is protected.

With mental health risks at all-time highs, school leaders can help both staff and students “ride the waves” of emotion while protecting the school.

Leadership
| Membership

Unsung Hero: Sherry Krebsbach, Saint John's Preparatory School 2 min read

Krebsbach's unwavering commitment to her school serves as a bridge between eras of leadership, ensuring stability over the past 11 years.

Feature

Leadership
| Risk Management

Riding the Waves: Managing Risk in the Mental Health Crisis: Students 15 min read This item is protected.

With mental health risks at all-time highs, school leaders can help both staff and students “ride the waves” of emotion while protecting the school.

CEO Notebook

Culture
| Human Resources
| Leadership

Retiring with Impact: 3 Keys to a Smooth Transition 4 min read

The former chief operations officer at Sandy Spring Friends School and new director of operations share how they’ve managed the handoff.

Leadership
| Membership

Announcing the 2023 NBOA Will J. Hancock Unsung Heroes 2 min read

Congratulations to these exemplary business and operations leaders in independent schools!

Business Intelligence

Budget
| Extended Day
| Summer Camp

Financial Trends in Auxiliary Programs 3 min read This item is protected.

Auxiliary programs brought in higher revenues late pandemic (2021–22) than they did pre-pandemic, and with lower expenses.

Feature

Accounting
| Audit
| Legal
| Technology

DIY AI: Business Applications (Part 2) 13 min read This item is protected.

AI has never been more accessible, and it will impact every corner of the independent school business office.

Membership
| Planning

Unsung Hero: Paul Silva, Cushing Academy 2 min read

Silva's skilled financial management resulted in substantial tuition revenue increases backed by a long-term financial model, ensuring his school’s long-term sustainability.

Membership
| Planning

Unsung Hero: Robert A. Orenstein, Avon Old Farms School 2 min read

Orenstein's dedicated approach to school finances extends to his work with the broader business officer community.

Debt
| Membership

Unsung Hero: Joan McCabe, Pinecrest Academy 2 min read

McCabe's financial skills resulted in successful debt refinancing, reduced interest rates and enhanced financial stability.

Strategies

Boards and Trustees
| Budget

A Snapshot of School Finances 5 min read This item is protected.

This one-pager provides trustees with the information they need to spend their time together on strategy.

Budget
| 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?”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Two new research reports on critical aspects of independent school business can help your school understand its financial position and strengthen it.

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.

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 16 min read

The financial sustainability heat map has helped schools in areas from board communication to strategic planning. Here are four school’s stories.

CEO Notebook

Compliance
| Employment

Sound Off On Overtime Rules, Again 4 min read

NBOA and NAIS are advocating to ensure proposed changes to FLSA overtime rules do not threaten the viability of our schools.

CEO Notebook

Human Resources
| Leadership

Winning Buy-In for a Better Year 3 min read

With a focus on impact now, we’ll conclude this new school year with a real sense of accomplishment.

Employment
| Human Resources
| Labor Law

Recent Regulatory Rulings Expand Employee Rights 5 min read This item is protected.

The NLRB and DOJ have granted further protections for labor organization practices, cracked down on employer wage collusion and widened the scope of compensable damages.

Business Intelligence

Employment
| Research

A Portrait of the Business Office 2021–22 5 min read This item is protected.

Analysis of business office staffing, human resources staffing, years of experience and salary for chief business officers and more.

Feature

Human Resources
| Leadership

Riding the Waves: Managing Risk in the Mental Health Crisis: Staff 12 min read This item is protected.

With mental health risks at all-time highs, school leaders can help both staff and students “ride the waves” of emotion while protecting the school.

CEO Notebook

Culture
| Human Resources
| Leadership

Retiring with Impact: 3 Keys to a Smooth Transition 4 min read

The former chief operations officer at Sandy Spring Friends School and new director of operations share how they’ve managed the handoff.

Feature

Leadership
| Professional Development

25 Silver Rules for New Independent School HR Professionals 9 min read

As the role of HR managers in independent schools becomes increasingly vital, industry experts share 25 valuable tips to help newcomers excel and drive positive change.

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?

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.

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.

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.

CEO Notebook

Compliance
| Employment

Sound Off On Overtime Rules, Again 4 min read

NBOA and NAIS are advocating to ensure proposed changes to FLSA overtime rules do not threaten the viability of our schools.

Crisis Management
| Membership

Unsung Hero: Aimée Weil, Edmund Burke School 2 min read

Weil demonstrated exceptional resilience in the face of adversity, guiding her school through a traumatic incident while ensuring safety, recovery and positive outcomes.

Risk Management
| Safety and Security
| Technology

Don’t Look Back 11 min read This item is protected.

Smart security cameras can help schools shift from reactive to proactive responses, but are independent schools tapping their high-tech capabilities?

Feature

Leadership
| Risk Management

Riding the Waves: Managing Risk in the Mental Health Crisis: Students 15 min read This item is protected.

With mental health risks at all-time highs, school leaders can help both staff and students “ride the waves” of emotion while protecting the school.

Projections

Cybersecurity
| Risk Management

A Clear and Ever-Present Danger 6 min read

Cybersecurity is no longer new to independent schools, but as the threats continue to rise, it’s never been more important that your school’s practices are up to date.

Feature

Crisis Management
| Facilities
| Safety and Security

Safe Bets 15 min read This item is protected.

When it comes to school safety technology, what actually works? And what is worth the investment?

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Strategies

Change Management
| Technology

Transitioning to a Cloud-Based Student Information System 4 min read This item is protected.

Data utilization and information management improved significantly thanks to marketing and technology leaders’ collaboration.

Business Intelligence

Budget
| Extended Day
| Summer Camp

Financial Trends in Auxiliary Programs 3 min read This item is protected.

Auxiliary programs brought in higher revenues late pandemic (2021–22) than they did pre-pandemic, and with lower expenses.

Risk Management
| Safety and Security
| Technology

Don’t Look Back 11 min read This item is protected.

Smart security cameras can help schools shift from reactive to proactive responses, but are independent schools tapping their high-tech capabilities?

Feature

Accounting
| Audit
| Legal
| Technology

DIY AI: Business Applications (Part 2) 13 min read This item is protected.

AI has never been more accessible, and it will impact every corner of the independent school business office.

Culture
| Technology

Data Tracking That Advances School Culture 6 min read

Faculty and staff who are empowered to leverage data can tailor interventions and foster a more supportive and inclusive learning environment.

Feature

Change Management
| Leadership
| Technology

DIY AI: Key Considerations (Part 1) 13 min read This item is protected.

AI has never been more accessible, and it will impact every corner of the independent school business office.

Projections

Enrollment
| Technology

Leaning Into Online Learning 6 min read

Digital education can support the independent school business model in two primary ways.

Environmental Sustainability
| Facilities
| Membership

Unsung Hero: Laura Miyoshi, Sandy Spring Friends School 2 min read

With an eye for detail and functionality, Miyoshi has helped ensure a greener future at Sandy Spring Friends School.

Environmental Sustainability
| Facilities
| Maintenance

Transforming a Campus with WELL Certification: A Case Study 4 min read

By meeting rigorous standards for air quality, water purity, lighting and acoustics, Sandy Spring Friends School created a building that fosters both physical and mental well-being.

Projections

Cybersecurity
| Risk Management

A Clear and Ever-Present Danger 6 min read

Cybersecurity is no longer new to independent schools, but as the threats continue to rise, it’s never been more important that your school’s practices are up to date.

Feature

Crisis Management
| Facilities
| Safety and Security

Safe Bets 15 min read This item is protected.

When it comes to school safety technology, what actually works? And what is worth the investment?

Other Duties As Assigned

Environmental Sustainability
| Leadership

Planting the Seeds 5 min read

Land stewardship for this business officer includes learning from campus beavers, who have improved water quality and retention.

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.

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.

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 and Inclusion
| Technology

Tech-Enabled DEI Solutions 3 min read

Independent schools can operationalize their DEI goals using technology.

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?

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.

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.

Feature

Communication
| Leadership

Optimized, Optimistic Operations & Outcomes 11 min read This item is protected.

How to create efficiency and effectiveness using the Entrepreneurial Operating System.

Projections

Enrollment
| Technology

Leaning Into Online Learning 6 min read

Digital education can support the independent school business model in two primary ways.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

Feature

Boards and Trustees
| Diversity and Inclusion
| Leadership

The Business Case for DEI: Supporting the Board’s DEI Goals 12 min read This item is protected.

Tracking data, assessing vendors and working with the investment committee are just a few ways business officers can play a role in board level DEI work.

Risk & Compliance

Diversity and Inclusion
| Legal

Transgender Student Participation in Athletics: Legal Implications for Independent Schools 9 min read This item is protected.

What to know about federal and state laws and athletic governing bodies, and tips on crafting a policy.

Diversity and Inclusion
| Technology

Tech-Enabled DEI Solutions 3 min read

Independent schools can operationalize their DEI goals using technology.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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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.

Crisis Management
| Membership

Unsung Hero: Aimée Weil, Edmund Burke School 2 min read

Weil demonstrated exceptional resilience in the face of adversity, guiding her school through a traumatic incident while ensuring safety, recovery and positive outcomes.

Membership
| Planning

Unsung Hero: Paul Silva, Cushing Academy 2 min read

Silva's skilled financial management resulted in substantial tuition revenue increases backed by a long-term financial model, ensuring his school’s long-term sustainability.

Leadership
| Membership

Unsung Hero: Howard Richmond, Krieger Schechter Day School 2 min read

With a commitment to process management, Howard's financial stewardship paved the way for lasting improvements at Krieger Schechter Day School.

Membership
| Planning

Unsung Hero: Robert A. Orenstein, Avon Old Farms School 2 min read

Orenstein's dedicated approach to school finances extends to his work with the broader business officer community.

Other Duties As Assigned

Culture
| Membership

No Child Left Inside 4 min read

This business officer has helped lead more than 100 outdoor trips for students, from cross-country skiing to mountain biking to backpacking.

Voices from the Field

Leadership
| Membership

End Games 7 min read

Long-time business officers share how they chose to wrap up their careers.

Environmental Sustainability
| Facilities
| Membership

Unsung Hero: Laura Miyoshi, Sandy Spring Friends School 2 min read

With an eye for detail and functionality, Miyoshi has helped ensure a greener future at Sandy Spring Friends School.

Debt
| Membership

Unsung Hero: Joan McCabe, Pinecrest Academy 2 min read

McCabe's financial skills resulted in successful debt refinancing, reduced interest rates and enhanced financial stability.

Leadership
| Membership

Unsung Hero: Sherry Krebsbach, Saint John's Preparatory School 2 min read

Krebsbach's unwavering commitment to her school serves as a bridge between eras of leadership, ensuring stability over the past 11 years.

Leadership
| Membership

Announcing the 2023 NBOA Will J. Hancock Unsung Heroes 2 min read

Congratulations to these exemplary business and operations leaders in independent schools!

CEO Notebook

Culture
| Leadership
| Membership

Southern Comfort, National Connections 3 min read

When newer business officers connect with experienced colleagues and each other, it moves all of our schools forward.

Other Duties As Assigned

Leadership
| Membership

Stranger Things 7 min read

Business officers share some of the most unexpected moments they’ve had on the job.

Feature

Leadership
| Membership

Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: Tips from NBOA Board Chairs 6 min read

Chairs of the NBOA Board of Directors share some nuggets of wisdom.

CEO Notebook

Leadership
| Membership

Help Us Help You 4 min read

Findings from the 2022 NBOA annual membership survey are in. And your voice is needed once again to make NBOA work for you.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

CEO Notebook

Compliance
| Employment

Sound Off On Overtime Rules, Again 4 min read

NBOA and NAIS are advocating to ensure proposed changes to FLSA overtime rules do not threaten the viability of our schools.

Strategies

Change Management
| Technology

Transitioning to a Cloud-Based Student Information System 4 min read This item is protected.

Data utilization and information management improved significantly thanks to marketing and technology leaders’ collaboration.

Voices from the Field

Governance
| Research

From Numbers to Narratives 10 min read This item is protected.

Institutional research can uncover critical trends and help schools get ahead of potential issues. Eric Heilman shares how schools might get started.

Feature

Communication
| Leadership

Optimized, Optimistic Operations & Outcomes 11 min read This item is protected.

How to create efficiency and effectiveness using the Entrepreneurial Operating System.

Business Intelligence

Budget
| Extended Day
| Summer Camp

Financial Trends in Auxiliary Programs 3 min read This item is protected.

Auxiliary programs brought in higher revenues late pandemic (2021–22) than they did pre-pandemic, and with lower expenses.

CEO Notebook

Human Resources
| Leadership

Winning Buy-In for a Better Year 3 min read

With a focus on impact now, we’ll conclude this new school year with a real sense of accomplishment.

Crisis Management
| Membership

Unsung Hero: Aimée Weil, Edmund Burke School 2 min read

Weil demonstrated exceptional resilience in the face of adversity, guiding her school through a traumatic incident while ensuring safety, recovery and positive outcomes.

Risk Management
| Safety and Security
| Technology

Don’t Look Back 11 min read This item is protected.

Smart security cameras can help schools shift from reactive to proactive responses, but are independent schools tapping their high-tech capabilities?

Employment
| Human Resources
| Labor Law

Recent Regulatory Rulings Expand Employee Rights 5 min read This item is protected.

The NLRB and DOJ have granted further protections for labor organization practices, cracked down on employer wage collusion and widened the scope of compensable damages.

Feature

Accounting
| Audit
| Legal
| Technology

DIY AI: Business Applications (Part 2) 13 min read This item is protected.

AI has never been more accessible, and it will impact every corner of the independent school business office.

Membership
| Planning

Unsung Hero: Paul Silva, Cushing Academy 2 min read

Silva's skilled financial management resulted in substantial tuition revenue increases backed by a long-term financial model, ensuring his school’s long-term sustainability.

Culture
| Technology

Data Tracking That Advances School Culture 6 min read

Faculty and staff who are empowered to leverage data can tailor interventions and foster a more supportive and inclusive learning environment.

CEO Notebook

Culture
| Leadership

Leading The Ted Lasso Way 4 min read

Mastering the art of optimism can empower leaders to inspire their teams, navigate challenges with grace and forge a forward-looking organizational culture.

Feature

Change Management
| Leadership
| Technology

DIY AI: Key Considerations (Part 1) 13 min read This item is protected.

AI has never been more accessible, and it will impact every corner of the independent school business office.

Leadership
| Membership

Unsung Hero: Howard Richmond, Krieger Schechter Day School 2 min read

With a commitment to process management, Howard's financial stewardship paved the way for lasting improvements at Krieger Schechter Day School.

Projections

Enrollment
| Technology

Leaning Into Online Learning 6 min read

Digital education can support the independent school business model in two primary ways.

Membership
| Planning

Unsung Hero: Robert A. Orenstein, Avon Old Farms School 2 min read

Orenstein's dedicated approach to school finances extends to his work with the broader business officer community.

Other Duties As Assigned

Culture
| Membership

No Child Left Inside 4 min read

This business officer has helped lead more than 100 outdoor trips for students, from cross-country skiing to mountain biking to backpacking.

CEO Notebook

Leadership

I Swam with a Shark — and Returned Invigorated 4 min read

Shark Tank star and entrepreneur Daymond John can inspire all of us to be better leaders.

Voices from the Field

Leadership
| Membership

End Games 7 min read

Long-time business officers share how they chose to wrap up their careers.