Minors: School Business Leadership

The minor in school business leadership focuses on preparing school personnel to function as chief school business officials and business leaders within school districts.    The curriculum has been developed in conjunction with the Association of School Business Officials International.  The course of study is designed to educate school business  leaders in the areas of fiscal planning, facilities operations management, advanced budgeting, financial decision making, and organizational evaluation as it impacts instruction and learning.  Students will have an opportunity to actively participate in ASBO conferences and research projects.  The school business curriculum provides knowledge in organizational and fiscal planning which is necessary toward achieving the critical role of leadership in school business administration.  

EDD 8750: School Business Management
This course is designed to provide educators with an overview of school business organizations.  Fundamental principles and practices of school finance and school business management will illustrate successful practices of institutional administration.  Classroom teachers, counselors, media specialists, principals, and aspiring school business administrators will acquire knowledge of the school business functions and their impact on educational programs.

EDD 8751: Operational Planning and Budgeting in Schools
This course is a study of budgeting and accounting functions necessary for planning and administering school budgets.  Course topics include budget calendar, sources of revenue, short-term and long-term projections (revenue, expenditures, enrollment, etc.), salary calculations, and budget presentation.  Students will develop, analyze and critique their local budgets or data from other school district budgets.

EDD 8752: Accounting, Auditing and Reporting for School Districts
This course develops the necessary skills for school district accounting, auditing and reporting functions.  It is designed to familiarize candidates with the budgeting process—its purposes, utilization measurement, and legal requirements to ensure public trust.  Students will become familiar with accounting, auditing, and reporting practices within the educational settings. Specific topics will include school fund accounting, budgeting integration, types of audits (internal, external, and performance audits), procurement of audit services, and, state and federal reporting codes.

EDD 8753: Facility Operations Management
This course includes topics on physical plant planning management, budgeting for capital outlay, accountability for capital resources, maintenance of physical plant, and safety and crisis management.    Effective and efficient facility management contributes to the educational environment in which instructional programs are delivered.  Topics include developing facility plans, funding sources related to construction and the bond process, preventive school maintenance, environmental assessment and resource management. Students will obtain knowledge of the critical role of physical environment toward the support of instruction and effective administration within the largest single investment for a school district.

EDD 8754: Maintenance and Operation of Ancillary Services in School Systems
This course is designed to introduce the student to several support areas of education: technology, risk management, food service, transportation, security and human resources.  The scope of responsibilities of these areas will be discussed along with the potential fiscal impact on the educational program.  Funding sources, expenditures, and recent trends will be examined and discussed.

EDD 8755: Advanced Budgeting, Planning and Evaluation in Schools
This course is designed to help students to obtain the competencies required for the Association of School Business Officials' Meritorious Budget Award (MBA) program.  Budget developers will learn to apply the MBA criteria to their own school district's budget.  Topics include executive summaries, budget organization, financial presentation, related budget information, glossaries, and appropriate appendices. Students will achieve the criteria to become budget review.