Independent school leaders often ask me for advice regarding what they should be thinking about to help ensure a financially healthy future. It's a tough and important question, with an answer that's difficult to distill
3 min read
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Risk Management
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Technology
Ransomware is one of the next big threats to school data. “The bad guys are smart but lazy. If I had a choice to go after a school or a bank, I’d go after schools that are woefully unprepared for the skills I bring.”
12 min read
The chair of NBOA’s Board of Directors reflects on the not-for-profit difference, the CFO-head of school partnership and the omnipresent topic of financial sustainability.
10 min read
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Human Resources
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Safety and Security
Growing numbers of schools consider adding a dedicated risk manager. “It’s not that the CFO is doing less. It’s just that there is so much to keep up with and do that no one person can do it all.”
10 min read
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Safety and Security
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Trips
Rising anxieties over international travel programs have schools stepping up due diligence, buttoning up procedures. “The reality is, there but for the grace of God goes any school.”
12 min read
Projections
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Crisis Management
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Safety and Security
Independent schools must be resolute in providing the safest of havens where those wishing to do harm are quickly identified and weeded out.
4 min read
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Employee Benefits
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Facilities
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Tax
Tax-free or subsidized on- or off-campus housing is among independent schools’ most generous fringe benefits for select staff, as well as among the most misunderstood in terms of potential tax liability.
7 min read
Yes, your school is subject to OSHA regulations. And “common sense” precautions may not be legally compliant.
5 min read
Seeking new long-term revenue sources without losing sight of their missions, independent schools get entrepreneurial in digging into their real estate. “Land is an asset you can’t get back.”
11 min read
Establishing or reallocating capital funds for PPRRSM is one of the greatest intergenerational gifts an institution can make.
6 min read
Boarding schools in particular are straining to keep up with demand for high-speed Internet access. These strategies can improve connectivity without breaking the bandwidth budget.
8 min read
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Food Service
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Risk Management
How are independent schools handling allergens in their dining operations to prevent tragedies, abide by the law and serve food that is both healthy and affordable?
12 min read
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Contract
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Facility Rental
With facilities rentals, a good contract — among other details worth minding — can help schools maximize potential benefits while minimizing risks.
8 min read
For most independent schools, there is no better marketing expenditure than investing in facilities.
3 min read
As schools consider adding innovative new learning spaces, business officers must evaluate possibilities through the lens of their budgets and strategic goals.
13 min read
As technology advances, so does the proliferation of more complex fraud schemes—sometimes involving staff.
11 min read
I saw the transformation firsthand in higher education. As technology played a larger role within academic programs, and colleges and universities migrated more operations online, technology directors—who typically repor
2 min read
With the spring thaw comes the inevitable rush of construction activity on independent school campuses. This year, the shadow of financial sustainability might make those mounting expenditures even more concerning than u
2 min read
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Communication
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Technology
Why independent school leaders should take a “design pause” before sending that email, calling that meeting or excluding the possibility of collaborating with anyone, anywhere.
10 min read
Many NBOA members tell me that if they have one great takeaway from a professional development program—a new idea, a solution to a problem, a sample form—then their investment of time and money is worthwhile.
2 min read
