Chief Financial Officer Course Descriptions

Introduction to School Business (14 hours): An overview of school business operations with a focus on several key areas. The program begins with a brief background on the general functions of the School Business Office Manager. Major components of the program include: listing and describing reports that must be filed with federal, state, and local agencies; reviewing school laws and the Revised School Code; introducing fund accounting processes; reviewing school organizational issues and operational issues (how school boards and administrators function); and exploring inter-relationships between the business office and site operations - offices in school buildings, facilities, transportation, and food services. Part of the program is devoted to discussion about the roles and functions of the school business official.

Bonding/Borrowing/Investing (3 hours): Legal and practical issues relating to how school districts bond, borrow, and invest funds, including an overview of cash flow analysis, arbitrage, and general borrowing and investing options.

Cash Management (3 hours): This session will develop specifications for the selection of banking and other financial services, teach you how to apply the concept of compensating balances, comprehend procedures and legal constraints for cash collection and disbursement, analyze monthly internal transfers and loans, prepare a cash flow analysis, inclding a fund balance report for the board of education, and identify and deal with fraud and abuse.

Facilities (3 hours): The basic structure and function of building and grounds and maintenance operations, laws relating to school construction, environmental laws and regulations, planning maintenance programs, and what to expect from your director of facilities.

Food Services (3 hours): The basic structure and function of a food services program, food safety issues, vending and contracting for food services, and cooperative ventures.

Information Systems (3 hours): Use of computers and technology in the business office and the classroom, including: overview of hardware, developing a technology plan, major business office software applications, and telecommunications issues.

Instructional Program Evaluation (3 hours): This session will help the Business Manager understand the components of instructional programs within the school district; plan and implement program improvement; analyze economic factors associated with delivering and evaluating instructional programs. Learn how to develop procedures for evaluating and reporting the cost-effectiveness of programs; use evaluation data toward changes to the instructional program; and allocate resources to improve the programs.

Insurance and Risk Management (3 hours): Review of insurances necessary for school operations with a primary focus on: workerís compensation, cafeteria plans property/casualty, health insurance, liability insurance, errors and omissions, and methods of risk management. A portion of the program would be devoted to understanding options for purchasing insurance: pools, cooperatives, private vendors, and self-insurance.

Labor Relations/Employment Law (6 hours): Major state and federal employment laws, that apply to public schools. Includes: collective bargaining, wage and hour, discrimination, COBRA, Family Medical Leave Act, and federal and state retirement issues.

Payroll and Related Personnel Issues (3 hours): Laws and regulations related to the payroll function including: state and federal payroll laws and regulations, pertinent tax regulations, employee retirement plans, practical aspects of completing a payroll, and electronic check deposits.

Principles of Education (3 hours): Provides an understanding of: the educational process, culture of schools, major learning theories, teaching methodologies, school improvement, design of in-service programs, and the structure and function of the principalship.

Public Relations and Internal Communications (3 hours): Background in PR and presenting yourself to others, including: developing a public relations plan, working with your community, relating to other administrators within your organization, doing a budget presentation, and using internal and external committees in developing a budget.

Purchasing (3 hours): Basics of performing the purchasing function, including: related Michigan laws, the structure of a purchasing operation, electronic and cooperative purchasing, bidding, reviewing contracts, lease-purchase options, and "partnerships."

Revenue, Expenditures and Budgeting Part I and Part II (6 hours each): General explanation of: school revenue and transfer sources, and the process and structure of accounting for budgets and expenditures. Subjects include: the School Aid Act, accounting manuals, property taxes, fund accounting, forecasting and projecting, and federal and state programs. Part II will be a continuation of Part I and will also provide an opportunity for participants to bring their districtís budget to the workshop to ask specific questions and solicit suggestions.

Strategic Planning (3 hours): This session will focus on team participation in the identification of short- and long-term goals in all aspects of school district activities. Drawing from current research and practices, you will explore opportunities for your school district. This class will also assist in the making of a strategic plan that will move the district toward the achievement of its mission and goals. The session will provide data-sets required to facilitate the strategic planning process and assist in the implementaiton, monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and revision of a strategic plan.

Team Leadership (3 hours): The components of leadership in general, and the methods and challenges of managing people including: recruiting, training, motivating, and evaluating your staff.

Technology for the Business Manager (3 hours): This session will assist the Business Manager in promoting the development of staff training in technology for the school district. It will focus on developing long-range planning for the school district, while assigining appropriate specifications for technology purchasing. Technology infrastructure contracting for the school district, evaluating the cost benefits of producing information in relation to organizational value, and ensuring that apprpriate security is maintained will also be discussed.

Transportation (3 hours): The basic structure and function of a transportation department, equipment supply and purchase, and laws related to transportation

Transportation (3 hours): The basic structure and function of a transportation department, equipment supply and purchase, and laws related to transportation.

Wrap-up (2 hours): A concluding session to very briefly review the major program content areas, provide references and resource materials, and offer a chance for the participants to reflect back and look forward on their roles.

Elective (6 hours): Any class can be taken in your area of specialty.

Total class time is 85 hours. Continuing Education hours are 180 hours within a five-calendar-year period.