NBOA President and CEO
Last week I had the great pleasure of meeting with the NBOA Board of Directors for our Fall Board Meeting. I am continually impressed by the level of commitment your peers show in stewarding the association. Especially at the start of a new school year, it’s inspiring to discuss the opportunities ahead to help address your school’s financial challenges and opportunities, always with an eye on solutions and NBOA’s mission.
At this time of year, when you are likely considering next year’s tuition pricing with your school’s finance committee, your peers on the NBOA Board are focused on advancing strategic initiatives and other priorities to improve the financial health of the member schools we collectively serve. The NBOA Board, like any other, must approve the budget, consider membership dues rates for the future, and prepare for the upcoming nomination cycle for next year’s officers and directors. But what truly energizes our work is making time for generative discussion
A highlight in that arena last week was a presentation delivered by my longtime colleague and friend, Brad Rathgeber, president and CEO of One Schoolhouse and the Association for Academic Leaders. Rathgeber guided us through a strategic board-level discussion about AI use within independent schools and associations. I’ve written on AI many times in recent years, as it remains ever-present and is increasingly leveraged in our schools’ business processes. While the NBOA Board focused largely on what the association can and should do for our members — that is, for you — thoughts about school uses of AI surfaced as well, and they were so good that I had to share some of the highlights of our discussion here.
Brad Rathgeber presents to the NBOA Board of Directors, Fall 2025.
You Who Read The Fine Print
“We need to manage a new class of strategic risk while seizing new opportunity,” Rathgeber said. The biggest risk, he surmised, is standing still at this historic moment, as technology takes an enormous leap forward, as it did when the internet was first developed for public use. He was, however, careful to underscore the many risks of using AI without sufficient oversight and risk mitigation.
Many schools have developed policies, which is admirable, but enforcing them can be challenging, and employees may be signing up for AI tools that don’t align with school standards or policies. Business leaders who have experience reading contracts can play a critical role, he said, in helping colleagues less experienced in this area avoid red flags and accept or negotiate terms that are in the best interest of the school.
A Possible Thought Partner
Whereas just a couple years ago we were comparing generative AI tools to an intern that could be taught the ropes of school business, it’s common for these tools now to produce text or other outputs more on the level of a colleague.
Rathgeber also noted that while AI has been used to automate business activities — a role it continues to play — he highlighted the possibilities of newer generative AI tools to serve as thought partners to augment thinking. Whereas just a couple years ago we were comparing generative AI tools to an intern that could be taught the ropes of school business, it’s common for these tools now to produce text or other outputs more on the level of a colleague. That doesn’t mean the output is always right, that it’s never biased, and that we can start replacing the valuable work and dedication of our colleagues with machines, but it does have the potential to shift our thinking and open us up to new approaches.
What Do You Want?
The NBOA staff has heard that NBOA members are looking for more guidance and case studies on AI use in the independent school business office. I assure you we are continuing to develop ways for independent school business leaders and industry experts to learn about and share their successes with AI use in their schools’ operations. Stay tuned!
In the meantime, if you haven’t explored NBOA’s AI in the Business Office toolkit, which includes links to on-demand webinars, articles, sample policies and more, I would urge you to do so. I know our regular Zoom chats for business officers, controllers, and human resource professionals, touch on AI regularly. And you can always post a question on NBOA Connect and search for past threads.
Finally, I would urge you to be in touch — how have you been using AI in your business office? What questions do you have? What would you like to see next? I hope you are seizing this opportunity with your eyes open, and when you do, NBOA will continue to be an essential extension of your business office team.
Follow NBOA President and CEO Jeff Shields on LinkedIn.
