ASK A BUSINESS OFFICER

A simple list of particular issues or unique problems
that may confront a Business Officer.

For instance, some of you have had experience with transitioning a new Headmaster, or picking up your predecessor's accounting system, or just dealing with "That's the way we've always done it..." Collectively you represent many distinguished careers in the field. Surely you each have a "one-timer" that is worth sharing.


The page works like this. If you have had an experience that is unique or especially demanding, or different from the everyday flow of business, and you could share your solution experience with a Business Officer who may be just confronting this issue for the first time, please describe that experience in a few sentences, and send it to rogerh@misbo.com or cherylg@misbo.com . We will enter it on the list below.


When a Business Officer who sees a particular problem on the list that looks like something he or she is just confronting for the first time, that first-timer should call Roger or Cheryl, and we will connect you to the person who submitted the entry. The first-timer can then call the “guru” and (hopefully) gain great insight into his or her problem. Basically, we are encouraging open dialogue among Business Officers, and expanding our ability to meet and talk with more of you on a day-to-day basis.

HERE ARE THE TOPICS SUBMITTED AS STARTERS:

 

“Ask THIS Business Officer about Green building – LEED - strategic planning and strategic financial planning.”

 
 

Great idea! I can see this being of great value to new business officers. I feel that I have gained a lot of experience in the following areas:

1. Preparing a budget and five year projection (when none existed before!)
2. Retiring deferred maintenance (facilities)
3. Very unique experience in water and gas projects. Our School used to be a self-contained community with its own utilities (water, electric, sewer, gas).

We have slowly but surely gotten off of our own systems by replacing the infrastructure and forging relationships with the local utility companies. Hope this is helpful!”

 
 

“ Terrific! I'll get something to you.”

[ ed. Note: is this about finding enough time to do what you want to do, or prioritizing what you do…?]

 
 

“This summer's NAIS publication " Independent School " published an article
on sustainability that I wrote. In case MISBO does not receive the magazine, I have attached the article. And I would be happy to have my name associated with the topic within MISBO.”

 
 

“I manage an entirely school-owned bus company of 49 employees.  We provide commuting transportation for almost 1/3 of our 3,000 students, in addition to other school needs for transportation.  I'm happy to provide information to anyone who may need it.  I also manage our accounting department of 5 and our facilities department of 96.  Please use me anytime if needed. " 

 

 
 

“Since I have been at my school for 38 years, my best bet is expertise on “survival” in the Business Office.  I started teaching mathematics, headed the lower school for a couple of years, and went to the Business Office in 1978.  In the Business Office, I have handled almost all aspects of the business function.  My degrees are in mathematics and mathematics education, not accounting.”  


 
 

“What do you do when you look out your window and you see two parents, who are in the middle of a nasty divorce, arguing over their child in front of the entire school, when you have been trying to get them to sign the contract and pay tuition. Both say it is the other person's responsibility, and they don't have the money, and staff members have been subpoenaed to appear in court, yet the child is a good student that you want to keep?”