Leadership

Congratulations to the 2023 NBOA Award Recipients

This year’s awards recognize selfless and transformative leadership, and innovation in financial and facilities management.

Stock image of award
stock image of coins on blue background

Risk & Compliance  

  • Legal
  • | Risk Management

Why Is Insurance More Expensive? 7 min read This item is protected.

Social inflation is changing the liability landscape. Understanding it can help your school manage the costs.
Stock image of award
  • Leadership
  • | Membership

Congratulations to the 2023 NBOA Award Recipients 6 min read

This year’s awards recognize selfless and transformative leadership, and innovation in financial and facilities management.

Feature  

  • Boards and Trustees
  • | Budget
  • | Leadership

Strategic Financial Planning with the NBOA Heat Map 14 min read

The financial sustainability heat map, which will soon be available in BIIS, 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.
Erin Gruwell headshot and book covers

Feature  

  • Culture
  • | Leadership

2023 NBOA Annual Meeting: Seeing the Unseen: Erin Gruwell 11 min read

NBOA Breakfast speaker Erin Gruwell shares what she sees changing in classrooms today and how school operations are vital to programmatic goals.

CEO Notebook  

  • Leadership
  • | Membership

2022: My Favorite Things 4 min read

We accomplished much this past year that we can be proud of, from signature programs to robust data collection to timely guidance.
Nyle Dimarco

Feature  

  • Leadership

2023 NBOA Annual Meeting: Reaching the Stars: Nyle DiMarco 5 min read

NBOA Luncheon speaker Nyle DiMarco inspires school leaders to strive for their most ambitious goals.
Cheryl Sledoba, Ski Team

Other Duties As Assigned  

  • Leadership
  • | Membership

Slope Style 4 min read

When the school ski team needed a coach fast, this business officer and former pro skier stepped up.
suneel gupta

Feature  

  • Leadership

2023 NBOA Annual Meeting: Movers & Shakers & Builders & Makers: Suneel Gupta 11 min read

Opening keynote speaker Suneel Gupta shares insights on instilling wellness into organizational culture and winning internal buy-in for new ideas.
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  

  • Change Management
  • | Leadership

Too Important To Fail: Communicating Change 4 min read

Change is always hard, but some approaches are more painful to stakeholders than others.

CEO Notebook  

  • Leadership
  • | Membership

Ingredients for Leadership: People, Mood Check, Time 4 min read

Our most critical issues cannot be solved without leadership that that takes time to listen.
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.
hands holding heart image

Voices from the Field  

  • Leadership
  • | Membership

Given a Second Chance 6 min read

Following a serious heart attack, this business officer restructured his work so that he can continue living to his fullest.
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.
Stock image of black business man at table
  • Boards and Trustees
  • | Governance
  • | Leadership

Business Office Basics: New Trustee Orientation by the CFO 3 min read

To lay the foundation for a strong relationship, consider how to present key points at the appropriate level.

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.
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.
stock art of two school employees walking down hallway
  • Culture
  • | Leadership

Business Office Basics: Entry Interviews 3 min read

Former long-time business officer, recent interim CFO, and founding member of NBOA Jim Pugh shares wisdom he has collected in his decades of service to independent schools.
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  

  • Boards and Trustees
  • | Budget
  • | Leadership

Strategic Financial Planning with the NBOA Heat Map 14 min read

The financial sustainability heat map, which will soon be available in BIIS, 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.
stock image of person looking at financial spreadsheet
  • Accounting
  • | Financing
  • | Procedures

Business Office Basics: The Monthly Operating Statement (P&L) and Quarterly Balance Sheet 4 min read

These financial reporting strategies can help business officers and their finance teams focus on value-added initiatives and strategic work to to improve their school's governance and control.
  • 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.

CEO Notebook  

  • Reports
  • | Research

Context Makes School Data Actionable 4 min read

When presented with purpose, financial data can make all the difference in preparing your school for the road ahead.
Stock art concept for conference table

Other Duties As Assigned  

  • Accounting
  • | Leadership
  • | Membership

A Seat at the FASB Table 4 min read

This business officer represents independent schools on the FASB Not-for-Profit Advisory Committee.
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.
Image of Zoe Schwam coaching hockey at Portledge School

Other Duties As Assigned  

  • Accounting
  • | Membership

If the Hat Fits, Wear It 3 min read

Holding roles as diverse as hockey coach and human resources director, this now director of financial reporting has deep connections across her school.

CEO Notebook  

  • Membership
  • | Planning

NBOA’s New Strategy Begins and Ends With You 5 min read

Member insights were crucial in developing NBOA’s new strategic framework – and we’ll need your feedback today and going forward to assess its progress.
Photo of the Pine Crest School business office staff.

Voices from the Field  

  • Cash Management
  • | Reports

Piece by Piece 9 min read

The 2022 recipient of the Ken White Distinguished Business Officer Award, Nancy Greene, is known for mastering advanced strategies in finance and risk, and communicating their importance to colleagues and peers.
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.

CEO Notebook  

  • Budget
  • | Change Management
  • | Leadership

Low-Cost, High-Impact Innovation 5 min read

As we move away from the forced changes of pandemic years and into intentional innovation, consider a few low- to no-cost efforts successfully undertaken by colleges and universities.
pie chart stock photo
  • Membership
  • | Planning

Strategies: Strategic Financial Planning for School Business Leaders 3 min read

NBOA’s latest book provides key considerations to help professionals new to independent school business succeed in their leadership roles.
  • 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.
  • 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.
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?

CEO Notebook  

  • Human Resources
  • | Leadership

Key Questions To Combat the Great Resignation at Your School 5 min read

A deep understanding of your school’s talent pool is a competitive advantage.
Kosowski Powering On MA22.jpeg
  • Change Management
  • | Human Resources
  • | Leadership

Powering On: Managing Conflict Within Independent Schools 18 min read This item is protected.

When polarizing issues come to campus, the business office can be a strong force in connecting the community.
Voices JF22.jpeg
  • Human Resources
  • | Leadership

Voices from the Field: Full Stop 4 min read

Following the stress of the 2020–21 school year, one school experimented with a coordinated, school–wide break.
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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?
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.
stock image of coins on blue background

Risk & Compliance  

  • Legal
  • | Risk Management

Why Is Insurance More Expensive? 7 min read This item is protected.

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?
https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NBOA/UploadedImages/tI5eJFK9Td62vDo4Yxnn_cyber%20insurance.png

Risk & Compliance  

  • Cybersecurity
  • | Risk Management

Bracing for a Tumultuous Cyber Insurance Marketplace 7 min read

Five ways to better position your school for lower rates — and protect your network from cyberattacks.
  • Facilities
  • | Leadership
  • | Risk Management

Announcing the 2022 Recipients of the Distinguished Business Officer and Outstanding School Support Awards 5 min read

Every year since 1999, NBOA’s Ken White Distinguished Business Officer Award has recognized an exceptionally active and inspiring individual who has dedicated their career to the support of others within our community. A
https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NBOA/UploadedImages/2vmpb2BPTtGygaWt1ze9_Wellness%20Freed%20JF22.jpeg
  • Human Resources
  • | Pandemic

Get Well(ness) Soon 13 min read This item is protected.

Schools are rethinking wellness programs to drive tangible improvements in staff and faculty wellbeing.

Projections  

  • Change Management
  • | Leadership
  • | Pandemic

Projections: You Are the Continuity 8 min read

As the average head-of-school tenure shrinks, business office leadership has largely remained steady — and essential to furthering our schools’ present and future course.
https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NBOA/UploadedImages/oFdL2k4tQG2CDWRHMF9D_iStock-1312818032.jpeg
  • Hiring
  • | Risk Management
  • | Technology

What Don’t I Know? The Importance of Social Media Screening 5 min read

Amber Stockham: What can a school learn from a social media check?
https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NBOA/UploadedImages/YP2pfkwvRZqBRFf2cL7c_Untitled%20design%20(7).png
  • Communication
  • | Marketing
  • | Risk Management

Is Your Marcom Office Ready for the Latest Privacy Changes? 11 min read

The way we track email campaign metrics is going to change.
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  • Compliance
  • | Pandemic
  • | Regulatory Updates

NBOA Regulatory Roundup: Vaccines and Accommodations, ERC, International Travel and More 4 min read This item is protected.

This fall is similar to the one before it only in that both are unlike any other schools have experienced in recent memory. As schools have worked to adapt their policies and procedures again to ensure the safety of thei
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?
River Oaks Baptist School

Business Intelligence  

  • Facilities
  • | Maintenance

How Old Is Your Plant Now? 5 min read This item is protected.

The financial answer is a simple calculation that will help your school manage resources strategically.
New dormitory rendering for Solebury School
  • Culture
  • | Facilities

Building on Culture: Interpretive Master Planning 10 min read This item is protected.

An interpretive master planning process can assure the future vision of a campus truly serves the needs of the entire school community.
Pingry bus students
  • Facilities
  • | Transportation

The Driving Force: Optimizing Transportation 12 min read This item is protected.

School-provided transportation can buoy enrollment and diversity, but developing a cost- and time-efficient model is tricky business.

Projections  

  • Environmental Sustainability
  • | Facilities

Projections: Three Facilities Trends That Take Us Beyond COVID 7 min read

Facilities changes made during COVID are being taken to the next level as school prepare for the longer-term future.
  • Enrollment
  • | Technology

Engaging Online Learners for Greater Financial Sustainability 4 min read

Expanding online curriculum can also promote on-campus engagement opportunities.
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  • Environmental Sustainability
  • | Facilities

Working Wellness into School Facilities: 4 Trends 4 min read

Wellness features and healthy design offer simpler, more flexible community spaces where students can relax and restore from the increased stresses of everyday life.
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.
https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NBOA/UploadedImages/tI5eJFK9Td62vDo4Yxnn_cyber%20insurance.png

Risk & Compliance  

  • Cybersecurity
  • | Risk Management

Bracing for a Tumultuous Cyber Insurance Marketplace 7 min read

Five ways to better position your school for lower rates — and protect your network from cyberattacks.
https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NBOA/UploadedImages/lzhQpQDJTqqBVBFjaTkW_Duties%20JF22.jpeg
  • Leadership
  • | Technology

Other Duties as Assigned: Coaching the E-Team 5 min read

Esports are like others sports and also not, which is their appeal for this business officer.
  • Facilities
  • | Leadership
  • | Risk Management

Announcing the 2022 Recipients of the Distinguished Business Officer and Outstanding School Support Awards 5 min read

Every year since 1999, NBOA’s Ken White Distinguished Business Officer Award has recognized an exceptionally active and inspiring individual who has dedicated their career to the support of others within our community. A
https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NBOA/UploadedImages/6Be9EZumTTG0cM1oZkgQ_Strategies%20JF22.jpeg

Strategies  

  • Human Resources
  • | Technology

Strategies: School Culture and the Cloud 8 min read

Encourage acceptance of — and minimize resistance to — remote hires or cloud-based processes by engaging in these distinct steps.
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?
https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NBOA/UploadedImages/YP2pfkwvRZqBRFf2cL7c_Untitled%20design%20(7).png
  • Communication
  • | Marketing
  • | Risk Management

Is Your Marcom Office Ready for the Latest Privacy Changes? 11 min read

The way we track email campaign metrics is going to change.
https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NBOA/UploadedImages/ucxx1HnQSeC9AqGHLUcO_MM%20ND21.jpeg

Mission & Motivation  

  • Enrollment
  • | Leadership

Mission & Motivation: Partnerships That Raise Our Profile 4 min read

Creating joint programs with related organizations has helped differentiate our school in a competitive market.
https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NBOA/UploadedImages/duX5yqPTmeYn8b8jTvyA_5%20Minutes%20w%20King%20ND21.jpeg
  • Admission
  • | Enrollment

5 Minutes With Jenna Rogers King: To Test or Not To Test? 9 min read

What business officers need to know about the admissions testing debate, the best of virtual admissions processes and potential iterations for online learning.
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 This item is protected.

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.
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  • 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.

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.

CEO Notebook  

  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Hiring
  • | Performance Management

3 “Reset” Opportunities for Business Officers 4 min read

Recruitment and retention efforts are vital in a hot labor market.
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Strategies  

  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Facilities

Strategies: Holding Ourselves Accountable 4 min read

As the pandemic drives more students to independent schools, business officers need to focus on big-picture strategies for tuition policies and other factors.
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5 Minutes with  

  • Crisis Management
  • | Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Leadership

5 Minutes with Chris Lukach: Pivotal Moments 8 min read

When communicating about difficult issues, do not aim to avoid conflict but rather strive to convey the school's work and the spirit in which it is done.
Stock image of award
  • Leadership
  • | Membership

Congratulations to the 2023 NBOA Award Recipients 6 min read

This year’s awards recognize selfless and transformative leadership, and innovation in financial and facilities management.

CEO Notebook  

  • Membership

Our Founding – Our Future: Celebrating 25 years of NBOA 5 min read

It’s been an incredible journey — with exciting collective work for the community to come.

CEO Notebook  

  • Leadership
  • | Membership

2022: My Favorite Things 4 min read

We accomplished much this past year that we can be proud of, from signature programs to robust data collection to timely guidance.
Net Assets 2022 covers
  • Membership

The Best of 2022: Re-Defining Independent School Leadership 3 min read

To address the challenges of 2022 and beyond, independent school leaders looked inward to redefine their values and priorities.
Cheryl Sledoba, Ski Team

Other Duties As Assigned  

  • Leadership
  • | Membership

Slope Style 4 min read

When the school ski team needed a coach fast, this business officer and former pro skier stepped up.

CEO Notebook  

  • Membership

Aligning Who We Are With What We Do 3 min read

As NBOA plans to celebrate its first 25 years, we are asking all members to envision what the next 25 years could hold.

CEO Notebook  

  • Leadership
  • | Membership

Ingredients for Leadership: People, Mood Check, Time 4 min read

Our most critical issues cannot be solved without leadership that that takes time to listen.
hands holding heart image

Voices from the Field  

  • Leadership
  • | Membership

Given a Second Chance 6 min read

Following a serious heart attack, this business officer restructured his work so that he can continue living to his fullest.
Ann-Marie Tewey
  • Membership

Unsung Hero: Ann-Marie Tewey, Boulder Country Day School 2 min read

Through major construction projects and benefits improvements, Tewey has been an instrumental force in modernizing operations at her school.
Marcus Shuflin, NBOA Unsung Hero recipient
  • Membership

Unsung Hero: Marcus Shuflin, Oasis International School — Kuala Lumpur 2 min read

An innovative thinker, Shuflin designed a professional development program to get business office staff thinking about the school’s mission and culture.
Gamaliel Rivera, NBOA Unsung Hero Award recipient
  • Membership

Unsung Hero: Gamaliel Rivera, The Baldwin School of Puerto Rico 2 min read

Rivera has been instrumental in restoring the facilities and financial health of The Baldwin School of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria caused extensive damage.
Lori Lauman, NBOA Unsung Hero Award recipient
  • Membership

Unsung Hero: Lori Lauman, Omni Montessori School 2 min read

Lauman’s project management skills have helped Omni Montessori School improve employee benefits and payroll processes.
Scott Hicks, NBOA Unsung Hero
  • Membership

Unsung Hero: Scott Hicks, Aspen Country Day School 2 min read

Hicks was instrumental in establishing a firm financial footing through careful stewardship of resources, thoughtful planning and adept property management.
Elizabeth Healy, NBOA Unsung Hero
  • Membership

Unsung Hero: Elizabeth Healy, Cardinal Spellman High School 2 min read

Healy helped her school transition to an independent business model after years of being an archdiocesan school.
Grimmer Unsung Hero
  • Membership

Unsung Hero: Rebecca Grimmer, All Saints' Episcopal School of Fort Worth 2 min read

Grimmer has been instrumental in conserving natural resources on campus while running a lean budget.
Unsung Hero Award recipient Robert Constantine
  • Membership

Unsung Hero: Robert Constantine, The White Mountain School 2 min read

As his school’s longest-tenured administrator, Constantine helped oversee several leadership transitions while modernizing financial practices at The White Mountain School.
  • Leadership
  • | Membership

NBOA Leadership Academy Takes Root 4 min read

The program’s success indicates that business office leaders and staff alike have an appetite for the executive skills to help advance their schools.
Dyana Conroy, Unsung Hero
  • Membership

Unsung Hero: Dyana Conroy, The Potomac School 2 min read

Conroy’s outstanding communication skills have helped build trust and streamline operations at The Potomac School.
Jenny Chen, NBOA Unsung Hero
  • Membership

Unsung Hero: Jenny Chen, Hanahau'oli School 2 min read

A master risk manager and strategic thinker, Chen helped the Hanahau'oli School navigate pandemic-related challenges and ward off fraud attempts.
Taryn Clatanoff, NBOA Unsung Hero recipient
  • Membership

Unsung Hero: Taryn Clatanoff, Skutt Catholic High School 2 min read

Clatanoff's organizational leadership skills have helped Skutt Catholic High School transition to a new tuition model and grow enrollment.
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 image of coins on blue background

Risk & Compliance  

  • Legal
  • | Risk Management

Why Is Insurance More Expensive? 7 min read This item is protected.

Social inflation is changing the liability landscape. Understanding it can help your school manage the costs.
Stock image of award
  • Leadership
  • | Membership

Congratulations to the 2023 NBOA Award Recipients 6 min read

This year’s awards recognize selfless and transformative leadership, and innovation in financial and facilities management.

Feature  

  • Boards and Trustees
  • | Budget
  • | Leadership

Strategic Financial Planning with the NBOA Heat Map 14 min read

The financial sustainability heat map, which will soon be available in BIIS, has helped schools in areas from board communication to strategic planning. Here are four school’s stories.
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.
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.

CEO Notebook  

  • Membership

Our Founding – Our Future: Celebrating 25 years of NBOA 5 min read

It’s been an incredible journey — with exciting collective work for the community to come.

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.
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.
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.
Erin Gruwell headshot and book covers

Feature  

  • Culture
  • | Leadership

2023 NBOA Annual Meeting: Seeing the Unseen: Erin Gruwell 11 min read

NBOA Breakfast speaker Erin Gruwell shares what she sees changing in classrooms today and how school operations are vital to programmatic goals.

CEO Notebook  

  • Leadership
  • | Membership

2022: My Favorite Things 4 min read

We accomplished much this past year that we can be proud of, from signature programs to robust data collection to timely guidance.
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.
Net Assets 2022 covers
  • Membership

The Best of 2022: Re-Defining Independent School Leadership 3 min read

To address the challenges of 2022 and beyond, independent school leaders looked inward to redefine their values and priorities.
Nyle Dimarco

Feature  

  • Leadership

2023 NBOA Annual Meeting: Reaching the Stars: Nyle DiMarco 5 min read

NBOA Luncheon speaker Nyle DiMarco inspires school leaders to strive for their most ambitious goals.
Cheryl Sledoba, Ski Team

Other Duties As Assigned  

  • Leadership
  • | Membership

Slope Style 4 min read

When the school ski team needed a coach fast, this business officer and former pro skier stepped up.

CEO Notebook  

  • Membership

Aligning Who We Are With What We Do 3 min read

As NBOA plans to celebrate its first 25 years, we are asking all members to envision what the next 25 years could hold.
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.
suneel gupta

Feature  

  • Leadership

2023 NBOA Annual Meeting: Movers & Shakers & Builders & Makers: Suneel Gupta 11 min read

Opening keynote speaker Suneel Gupta shares insights on instilling wellness into organizational culture and winning internal buy-in for new ideas.
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.

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