SBO Perspectives

Today we’re excited to bring on a friend, colleague and fellow ASBO NY Board member, Dr. Chris Abdoo, Assistant Superintendent for Support Services at the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District. Chris tells us about his unique background that lead him to his SBO role and how he’s balancing all of his commitments now that he’s on the Board of Directors!

The start of school is right around the corner and we as SBO’s should be considering the state of our school security. Tom Wohlleber, Executive Director of Wisconsin School Safety Coordinators Association, helps prioritize what to address in a school district’s culture and uses his 40+ years of experience on strategies to prepare for emergencies.

As you’ve heard in previous episodes, technology is nowhere near slowing down. That’s why it’s so important that the business office and technology department work hand in hand. That’s why the Consortium of School Networking (CoSN) comes in! Join us as we speak to Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN and Pete Just, Immediate Past Chair of CoSN about the collaboration between the business office and tech, th...

Today you’re getting a different type of interview…a behind the mic discussion with your very own host, Dr. Jack R. Mitchell. Jack is the president elect for ASBO New York and we wanted to shed some light on the process of making your way through the association ranks and what he’s excited about in his upcoming year!

To say we’re excited would be an understatement! Dr. Marguerite Roza, Director of the Edunomics Lab and Research Professor at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy joins us to talk about her brainchild, the Edunomics Lab and how their focus on the study of education finance is providing unparalleled insights into district spending throughout the country. To check out more on the...

Artificial Intelligence seems to be the focus of everyone’s attention these days and it’s certainly one of ours. We’ve talked about AI and the potential changes in the world of school business and today we’re taking a deeper dive on the tech and what’s to come. Brian DeBoyace, Staff Developer at Otsego Northern Catskills BOCES in New York joins us to offer his perspective on the exciting potential...

Weighing the pros and cons between staffing internally and looking to outsource can be challenging. Luckily for you, we have an expert to talk about how to approach the possible decision, what you can do to communicate these delicate topics to your stakeholders and why it could save your district’s budget. Maria Parry, School Business Administrator at Monmouth Regional High School in New Jersey br...

How often are you taking the necessary time to check in with yourself and your mental health? Today we’re taking that time! Dr. Jane Crawford, Assistant Superintendent of Support Services at Ferguson-Florissant School District in St. Louis, MO gives us great tips and tricks to deal with self care, what she’s seeing in public education and how to best address those times where we need self care mos...

It’s audit season…wait…isn’t it always audit season? Tune in with Shari Diamond, Partner at Cerini and Associates, LLP, who dives into the claims audit process, how Artificial Intelligence can affect our processes and what to look out for down the road.

Whether you’re brand new to being an SBO or have been in the field your entire career, professional development is arguably something that everyone can benefit from. Leslie Peterson, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Management Services at Arlington Public Schools tells us her story about starting the first three years of her career with no opportunity for PD to becoming a presenter, ASBO P...

Today we’re coming to you LIVE from the ASBO New York Education Summit trade show floor with non other than Siobhan McMahon, Interim Executive Director of ASBO International. We talk all things ASBO Int’l and flag down those passing by to get their take on such a wonderful organization!

Finding good employees seems to get harder and harder theses days, but fear not! We have someone who has really made the most out of finding great candidates and has some tips on what to look for when interviewing potential hires in your district. Kari Austin, Chief School Financial Officer/Director of Finance at Mountain Brook Schools in Birmingham, AL lets us know all about great practices on fi...

Have you considered that maybe it’s time to upgrade your financial reporting? We all have to do annual audits, but there’s an option out there that takes your financial reporting to new heights and is a great opportunity to showcase your district’s sound financial condition. Sara Kirk, CPA at Heinfield, Meech & Co. and Kelly Benusa, Director of Business Services at ISD 279 Osseo Area Schools,...

We love to hear all of the personal stories on SBO Perspectives and we have another great one lined up today! Join us as we speak with Paul Bobek, CFO at West De Moines CSD in West De Moines, Iowa. Paul fills us in on some of the challenges he and his colleagues are facing related to state funding and parental choice, but also the unique methods used to keep the grounds tidy!

Most of us have been involved with E-Rate at some point or another, but do you feel like you have a handle on everything that goes into making it work for you? Fear not! Winston Himsworth, Senior Director at E-Rate Central breaks the process down for us, talks about where the program came from and how you can be successful with this funding mechanism in your district!

When you rely heavily on your reputation and credibility, trust and relationships are more important than anything. Chris Shishko, Partner at Guercio & Guercio LLP, spells it out for us as well as previewing what’s on the horizon for school districts in the courts.

It’s not too often that you find yourself having worked on both the eastern and western coasts of the United States, but Dr. Victor Hayek, Deputy Superintendent, Business Services at Conejo Valley Unified School District has done just that! From New Jersey to California, Dr. Hayek has traveled coast to coast, bringing his expertise in school finance (and his ice scraper!) along with him.

Solar installations are becoming more and more popular as the cost of energy increases, putting strain on district budgets. Energia sits down with us to review all the benefits of this renewable energy and how schools can take advantage of multiple funding mechanisms to make as little negative impact on the budget as possible.

Dr. Anthony Dragona joins us today with over 47 years of experience in public education! Hailing from Union City, NJ, Tony tells us what it’s been like to have grown up in the same district he’s spent his entire career. He also let’s us in on a little secret: if you can’t build out, build up!

Today we take a trip to Ashburn, VA to get a glimpse of the ASBO International Editorial Advisory Committee (EAC). If you’ve ever enjoyed an article published in the School Business Affairs magazine, you can thank the EAC for all of their hard work! You’re going to be amazed at the dedication and commitment of these 13 seasoned school business officials!

When we think about leadership in the profession, there can never be enough opportunities for professional development and collaborating on what it takes to be a contributing member to your local ASBO. Brian Chechnicki, Executive Director of ASBO New York and Tim Hilker, President of ASBO New York, sit with us an reflect on their recent trip to San Antonio, TX for the annual ASBO International Lea...

When we think about leadership in the profession, there can never be enough opportunities for professional development and collaborating on what it takes to be a contributing member to your local ASBO. Brian Chechnicki, Executive Director of ASBO New York and Tim Hilker, President of ASBO New York, sit with us an reflect on their recent trip to San Antonio, TX for the annual ASBO International Lea...

In honor of Women’s Month, we wanted to speak with someone who is a real powerhouse in the industry. Brenda Burkett, CFO at Norman Public School is just that. She’s been through it all in her 32 years and shows no signs of stopping! Find out what it takes to be an SBO in Oklahoma and how they deal with some of the most challenging events.

Our first ever joint podcast! Today we’re teaming up with Dr. Brian Graham, Superintendent of Grand Island Central School District and host of “Achieving Joy and Mastery in Public Schools” podcast and Rubie Harris, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance to discuss the importance of the Superintendent and SBO relationship. We also explore the transition back to normal operating budgets a...

On SBO Perspectives, one of our main points of focus is just that: offering perspective. It’s episodes like this one that make all of our work worthwhile. Today is a look at and reflection of the 2023 Lifetouch Memory Mission in Guatemala. We have two business officials and representatives from Lifetouch and Hug It Forward to reflect on their most recent trip to a community in dire needs of educat...