School Business Insider

In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato sits down with John Vetter, Regional Sales Director at Centegix, to explore how school districts are prioritizing safety, how budgets reflect those decisions, and how wearable technology is shifting the conversation from reaction to readiness. They discuss district perspectives on safety funding, the impact of panic-button wearables, im...

The most valuable resource in school business isn’t a tool or a budget — it’s the people you can lean on. In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato is joined by Cindy Reilmann, CFO of the Special School District of St. Louis County, to discuss their School Business Now article, “Lean On Me: Building Your Professional Network.” Together, they explore the role of professional con...

In this special live-recorded episode from SBMW, host John Brucato and co-presenter Ron Clamser lead a candid, interactive session on navigating change in school business operations. Drawing on real stories from districts across New York State, they explore the challenges of staffing turnover, generational differences, technology transitions, AI integration, compliance pressures, and vendor change...

Strong governance builds strong organizations — and ASBO International is leading the way. In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato talks with members of the ASBO International Governance Task Force — Jim Rowan, Lynn Knight, Sharon Bruce, and Jordan Ely — about how the group is modernizing ASBO’s leadership structure to make it more transparent, inclusive, and effective. They...

In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato reconnects with Michael Linehan (Equitable), Sarah Breiner (U.S. OMNI & TSACG), and Phil Hahn (Security Benefit) to discuss what school business officials need to know now that the mandatory provisions of Secure 2.0 are taking effect. They break down the most important updates, compliance deadlines, and what districts can do today t...

One year after his first conversation on AI and innovation, ASBO New York’s Executive Director, Brian Cechnicki, returns to School Business Insider to share how his work has evolved — and what’s next. Host John Brucato reconnects with Brian to explore how ASBO New York is using AI, automation, and data visualization to create practical tools that empower members, enhance transparency, and support...

Leadership, family, and finding balance — what does it really look like in practice? In this solo episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato steps away from the interviews to share personal reflections on managing family life, leadership, and self in the midst of constant motion. John recently welcomed his second child and offers an honest look at what it means to balance professional a...

Career journeys are never linear — they’re built on experiences, lessons, and sometimes big leaps of faith. In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato talks with Rubie Harris, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Management Services at Huntington Union Free School District in New York. With more than a decade of experience in school business, Rubie shares her professional jo...

Schools are running out of land—but that doesn’t mean growth has to stop. Vertical design offers a compelling alternative for districts dealing with tight sites, rising costs, and changing educational requirements. In this episode of School Business Insider, we sit down with Kurt Peeters and Matt McGregor of Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction, Inc., authors of “The Vertical Advantage.” Th...

It’s almost time for ASBO International’s Annual Conference & Expo (AC&E 2025), happening October 21–23 in Fort Worth, Texas, with pre-conference workshops on October 20. In this episode, School Business Insider host John Brucato is joined by Cristin Watson, Lori Grooms, and Angie Smith from ASBO International to preview the event. Together, they highlight the theme “Navigate: Leading the...

School buildings are the backbone of learning environments—but too often, districts lack the funding clarity, planning tools, or support they need to modernize facilities. That’s where the National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI) comes in. In this episode of School Business Insider , host John Brucato speaks with Dr. Jeff Vincent, Director of NCSI, and Jo Ann Armstrong, CSBO, Chief Financia...

Enrollment is shrinking—and the pressure is on. But that doesn’t mean school districts need to cut blindly. It means they need to plan smart. In this episode, Dr. Marguerite Roza of Georgetown University’s Edunomics Lab joins School Business Insider to discuss what she calls “The Big Shrink”—a long-term, nationwide enrollment decline—and how school systems can respond with strategy rather than pan...

School safety is not waiting for permission, it’s urgent. In this episode of School Business Insider, John Brucato talks with Frank Guglieri, Director of Regional Safety Services at PNW BOCES, about rapid, real-world responses to recent crises like the Minneapolis school mass shooting and corrective action in cases of credible internal threats. They unpack what happens when crisis hits, what gaps...

Cyber attacks on schools are on the rise — and when they happen, the impact is immediate and long-lasting. In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato speaks with Johnty Mongan, Global Head of Cyber Risk Management at Gallagher Cyber Risk Management. With years of experience responding to some of the most challenging cyber incidents worldwide, Johnty pulls back the curtain on wha...

School districts have a unique opportunity to save money as they transition to electric buses and charging infrastructure. Through the federal 45W Clean Vehicle Credit and 30C Refueling Property Credit, districts can access up to $40,000 per bus and $100,000 per charger—but these tax credits are set to expire soon. In this episode of School Business Insider, John Brucato speaks with Katherine Robo...

In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato sits down with members of ASBO International’s Legislative Advocacy Committee (LAC) — Brandy Smith (Montoursville Area School District, PA), Erik Roush (Columbus City Schools, OH), Chris Smith (Katy ISD, TX), and Brian Cechnicki (ASBO New York). Together, they reflect on the 2025 Legislative Advocacy Conference and share why advocacy at...

Aziz Aghayev, CEO of Flowlyst, returns to School Business Insider to go deeper on AI strategies for school business officials. In this episode, we unpack prompt engineering best practices, custom GPT creation, and Aziz’s six-phase model for AI adoption. You’ll learn how to turn your thoughts into powerful, structured prompts and create your own GPTs to automate repetitive, time-consuming tasks—lik...

In this episode of School Business Insider, we head to the Lone Star State for an honest and engaging conversation with Dr. Tracy Ginsburg, Executive Director of TASBO, and Heather Wilson, TASBO Board President and Assistant Superintendent of College Station ISD. Heather shares her experience transitioning to a new district after nearly two decades in her previous role—discussing what it takes to...

In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato sits down with Howie Barber, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations at Old Rochester Regional and MA Supervisory Union #55 in Massachusetts, to walk through the essential steps school business officials should take before students return to class. From finalizing capital projects and updating safety plans to managing last-m...

In this special episode of School Business Insider, we’re sharing a recorded webinar presented by ASBO New York and ASBO International’s affiliate staff planning group. Host Amanda Wing leads a candid conversation with John Brucato—Assistant Superintendent, podcast host, and ASBO New York President-elect, about how to start a podcast from scratch, even when you're busy and budget-conscious. Y...

In this episode of School Business Insider, John Brucato sits down with Dr. Ron Clamser, Assistant Superintendent for Business at PNW BOCES and current President of ASBO New York. They explore Ron’s 18-year journey in volunteer leadership, from his early advocacy work to helping revamp ASBO NY’s strategic direction. Ron shares his “reflect” theme for the year, the importance of balancing service w...

In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato is joined by Sonja H. Trainor, Executive Director of the National School Attorneys Association, for a timely conversation about the U.S. Supreme Court’s major rulings and what they mean for school leaders. From religious objections to curriculum (Mahmoud v. Taylor) to transgender rights and medical procedures (U.S. v. Skrmetti), and fro...

Join host John Brucato and Maria Parry, retired SBA from Monmouth Regional High School (NJ), as they explore essential advice for those new to the school business field and those aiming to safeguard their district from disaster. Drawing from her School Business Now articles on career setup and disaster planning, Maria provides actionable insights—from résumé-risk mitigation to vendor planning—that...

In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato speaks with Chris Wildman, Assistant Superintendent for Finance at Grayslake CCSD 46 in Illinois. Chris shares how his district launched a robust sustainability program—including composting, solar, paper use reduction, and strategic planning—all while delivering financial savings and engaging stakeholders. Drawn from Chris’s June 2025 S...

In this solo episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato reflects on a remarkable transformation in his district—from the failure of a $36 million bond in 2018 to the successful completion of a $27 million capital project in 2024. With no tax increase and overwhelming community support, this journey was built on trust, transparency, and thoughtful planning. John shares actionable lessons...