Several key indicators have led me to this observation. One is that heads of schools and trustees are spending more and more time making decisions through a sustainability lens. Not long ago, I heard a board chair say, “We can live with almost any decision for one year, but when that decision is compounded over the next 10 years, will we be able to sustain it financially?”
Another indicator: The lion’s share of invitations we’re receiving at NBOA are for me or members of my staff to speak to heads of school, trustees and finance committees.
If we learned anything from the 2008 recession, it’s that we are all in this together. Rather than turning to their business officers when trustees bring up finances, heads of schools are building their own financial chops and partnering with their business officers to make decisions that support the school’s mission, are consistent with the school’s strategic plan and are within the school’s financial resources.
In the same vein, business officers are upping their game in understanding their schools’ academic programs. You’re attending faculty meetings, learning about technology’s potential for educational delivery, and simply “being visible” at your school in meaningful ways that extend well beyond financial stewardship.
Further, it’s not just heads of schools that want to partner with you, but admissions directors, advancement directors and on and on. These colleagues now understand that their programmatic expertise, married with your financial resources, leads to the best outcome for the school.
In short, the role once associated with the back-office accountant poring over ledgers is long gone. As we begin 2015, embrace the fact that your school wants—and needs—you to be a leader.
