Net Assets

Employment

Our Sometimes Forgotten Hiring Advantage

In a hot labor market, independent schools’ mission offers a distinct advantage over non-educational employers.

Enrollment

A Match Made in Data

Communication

Balancing the Books and the Brand

Other Duties As Assigned

Communication
| Leadership

Balancing the Books and the Brand 4 min read

This business officer has overseen marketing and communications when needed — including during the Covid pandemic.

CEO Notebook

Employment
| Leadership

Our Sometimes Forgotten Hiring Advantage 4 min read

In a hot labor market, independent schools’ mission offers a distinct advantage over non-educational employers.

Legal
| Regulatory Updates
| Salary

NBOA and NAIS Advocate for Reasonable Overtime Rules 3 min read This item is protected.

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

CEO Notebook

Boards and Trustees
| Leadership

Curiosity Creates the Leader 4 min read

Curiosity may be school leaders’ number one trait to guide our schools through increasingly unpredictable waters.

Compliance
| Legal

Post-Affirmative Action, Is Financial Aid Next? 4 min read This item is protected.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action in college admissions, financial aid practices may receive more scrutiny.

Change Management
| Enrollment
| Tuition

Returns on a Reset 12 min read This item is protected.

To boost harvest yield, gardeners must prune early growth. Likewise, an independent school may at some point need to cut its tuition or “reset” the sticker price in order to grow net tuition revenue.

CEO Notebook

Leadership
| Technology

Prompted To Lead 5 min read

Honing our use of generative AI was just one of many takeaways from this year’s NBOA Leadership Academy gathering in Nashville.

Feature

Leadership
| Membership

2024 NBOA Annual Meeting: Leading through Disruption: Shawn Kanungo 9 min read

Opening keynote speaker Shawn Kanungo has helped hundreds of business leaders innovate their organizations’ approaches to finance, technology and workplace culture.

Endowment
| Governance

Endowments and Governance: 5 Key Insights 4 min read This item is protected.

Results from a recent survey reveal best practices for enhancing financial governance and strategies for sustained intergenerational equity.

CEO Notebook

Culture
| Diversity and Inclusion
| Leadership

Healing and Humor in Atlanta 4 min read

A message of humor and inspiration from 2024 NBOA Annual Meeting Speaker Bertice Berry.

Stock image of multiple generations in workforce

Culture
| Performance Management

Bridging the Gap in Multi-Generational Workplaces 4 min read

Challenging preconceived notions around age is key to understanding generational differences and fostering a collaborative workforce.

Other Duties As Assigned

Leadership
| Summer Camp

Build That Bridge 5 min read

It's up to the business officer to earn trust with faculty. Teaching is one way to do it.

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.

Budget
| Financial Aid

Betting on Change in Financial Aid 4 min read

Leaders in independent school financial aid offer their take on the current terrain — plus NBOA’s Financial Aid Fast Facts sheet.

Endowment
| Governance

Endowments and Governance: 5 Key Insights 4 min read This item is protected.

Results from a recent survey reveal best practices for enhancing financial governance and strategies for sustained intergenerational equity.

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.

CEO Notebook

Employment
| Leadership

Our Sometimes Forgotten Hiring Advantage 4 min read

In a hot labor market, independent schools’ mission offers a distinct advantage over non-educational employers.

Legal
| Regulatory Updates
| Salary

NBOA and NAIS Advocate for Reasonable Overtime Rules 3 min read This item is protected.

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

Employee Benefits
| Research
| Salary

Now Available: NBOA’s Mission-Anchored Compensation Strategies Resources 3 min read

NBOA spent more than a year researching compensation trends in independent schools. Resources that leaders can use to consider their own school’s compensation practices are now here.

Culture
| Performance Management

Bridging the Gap in Multi-Generational Workplaces 4 min read

Challenging preconceived notions around age is key to understanding generational differences and fostering a collaborative workforce.

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.

Risk & Compliance

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

Compensation Strategies
| 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.

Compliance
| Legal

Post-Affirmative Action, Is Financial Aid Next? 4 min read This item is protected.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action in college admissions, financial aid practices may receive more scrutiny.

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?

CEO Notebook

Leadership
| Technology

Prompted To Lead 5 min read

Honing our use of generative AI was just one of many takeaways from this year’s NBOA Leadership Academy gathering in Nashville.

Cybersecurity
| Enrollment
| Tuition

Sophisticated New Tuition Phishing Scams: What Schools Need to Know 3 min read

Tuition phishing scams pose a growing threat to independent schools and parents.

Other Duties As Assigned

Leadership
| Summer Camp

Build That Bridge 5 min read

It's up to the business officer to earn trust with faculty. Teaching is one way to do it.

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.

Other Duties As Assigned

Communication
| Leadership

Balancing the Books and the Brand 4 min read

This business officer has overseen marketing and communications when needed — including during the Covid pandemic.

Strategies

Enrollment
| Survey

A Match Made in Data 3 min read This item is protected.

Kimball Union Academy’s enrollment and finance teams share an attention to data that builds the partnership.

Business Intelligence

Research
| Tuition

A Tuition Discounting Pulse Check 6 min read This item is protected.

Trends in the tuition discount rate, discount types, administering discounts, funding discounts and more.

Budget
| Financial Aid

Betting on Change in Financial Aid 4 min read

Leaders in independent school financial aid offer their take on the current terrain — plus NBOA’s Financial Aid Fast Facts sheet.

Enrollment
| Tuition

Micro Schools Test Flexible Tuition 12 min read This item is protected.

Wildflower Schools, based across the U.S., have adapted their tuitions to meet community needs and fulfill their missions.

Diversity and Inclusion
| Financial Aid
| Research

Telling Our Financial Aid Story 6 min read

The financial aid plot is shifting as dollars increase and diversity numbers fall.

Change Management
| Enrollment
| Tuition

Returns on a Reset 12 min read This item is protected.

To boost harvest yield, gardeners must prune early growth. Likewise, an independent school may at some point need to cut its tuition or “reset” the sticker price in order to grow net tuition revenue.

Enrollment
| Financial Aid
| Tuition Remission

Navigating Tuition and Financial Strategies 8 min read

NBOA and EMA partner to examine the unique relationship between tuition pricing, financial aid and independent school dynamics.

Cybersecurity
| Enrollment
| Tuition

Sophisticated New Tuition Phishing Scams: What Schools Need to Know 3 min read

Tuition phishing scams pose a growing threat to independent schools and parents.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion
| Financial Aid
| Research

Telling Our Financial Aid Story 6 min read

The financial aid plot is shifting as dollars increase and diversity numbers fall.

CEO Notebook

Culture
| Diversity and Inclusion
| Leadership

Healing and Humor in Atlanta 4 min read

A message of humor and inspiration from 2024 NBOA Annual Meeting Speaker Bertice Berry.

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.

Feature

Leadership
| Membership

2024 NBOA Annual Meeting: Leading through Disruption: Shawn Kanungo 9 min read

Opening keynote speaker Shawn Kanungo has helped hundreds of business leaders innovate their organizations’ approaches to finance, technology and workplace culture.

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.

Other Duties As Assigned

Communication
| Leadership

Balancing the Books and the Brand 4 min read

This business officer has overseen marketing and communications when needed — including during the Covid pandemic.

CEO Notebook

Employment
| Leadership

Our Sometimes Forgotten Hiring Advantage 4 min read

In a hot labor market, independent schools’ mission offers a distinct advantage over non-educational employers.

Strategies

Enrollment
| Survey

A Match Made in Data 3 min read This item is protected.

Kimball Union Academy’s enrollment and finance teams share an attention to data that builds the partnership.

Business Intelligence

Research
| Tuition

A Tuition Discounting Pulse Check 6 min read This item is protected.

Trends in the tuition discount rate, discount types, administering discounts, funding discounts and more.

Budget
| Financial Aid

Betting on Change in Financial Aid 4 min read

Leaders in independent school financial aid offer their take on the current terrain — plus NBOA’s Financial Aid Fast Facts sheet.

Legal
| Regulatory Updates
| Salary

NBOA and NAIS Advocate for Reasonable Overtime Rules 3 min read This item is protected.

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

CEO Notebook

Boards and Trustees
| Leadership

Curiosity Creates the Leader 4 min read

Curiosity may be school leaders’ number one trait to guide our schools through increasingly unpredictable waters.

Compliance
| Legal

Post-Affirmative Action, Is Financial Aid Next? 4 min read This item is protected.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action in college admissions, financial aid practices may receive more scrutiny.

Enrollment
| Tuition

Micro Schools Test Flexible Tuition 12 min read This item is protected.

Wildflower Schools, based across the U.S., have adapted their tuitions to meet community needs and fulfill their missions.

Diversity and Inclusion
| Financial Aid
| Research

Telling Our Financial Aid Story 6 min read

The financial aid plot is shifting as dollars increase and diversity numbers fall.

Change Management
| Enrollment
| Tuition

Returns on a Reset 12 min read This item is protected.

To boost harvest yield, gardeners must prune early growth. Likewise, an independent school may at some point need to cut its tuition or “reset” the sticker price in order to grow net tuition revenue.

CEO Notebook

Leadership
| Technology

Prompted To Lead 5 min read

Honing our use of generative AI was just one of many takeaways from this year’s NBOA Leadership Academy gathering in Nashville.

Feature

Leadership
| Membership

2024 NBOA Annual Meeting: Leading through Disruption: Shawn Kanungo 9 min read

Opening keynote speaker Shawn Kanungo has helped hundreds of business leaders innovate their organizations’ approaches to finance, technology and workplace culture.

Employee Benefits
| Research
| Salary

Now Available: NBOA’s Mission-Anchored Compensation Strategies Resources 3 min read

NBOA spent more than a year researching compensation trends in independent schools. Resources that leaders can use to consider their own school’s compensation practices are now here.

Endowment
| Governance

Endowments and Governance: 5 Key Insights 4 min read This item is protected.

Results from a recent survey reveal best practices for enhancing financial governance and strategies for sustained intergenerational equity.

Enrollment
| Financial Aid
| Tuition Remission

Navigating Tuition and Financial Strategies 8 min read

NBOA and EMA partner to examine the unique relationship between tuition pricing, financial aid and independent school dynamics.

CEO Notebook

Culture
| Diversity and Inclusion
| Leadership

Healing and Humor in Atlanta 4 min read

A message of humor and inspiration from 2024 NBOA Annual Meeting Speaker Bertice Berry.

Culture
| Performance Management

Bridging the Gap in Multi-Generational Workplaces 4 min read

Challenging preconceived notions around age is key to understanding generational differences and fostering a collaborative workforce.

Cybersecurity
| Enrollment
| Tuition

Sophisticated New Tuition Phishing Scams: What Schools Need to Know 3 min read

Tuition phishing scams pose a growing threat to independent schools and parents.

Other Duties As Assigned

Leadership
| Summer Camp

Build That Bridge 5 min read

It's up to the business officer to earn trust with faculty. Teaching is one way to do it.