2015 masbo matters

Transcription

2015 masbo matters

VOLUME 17, ISSUE I
FALL 2015
M A SBO M AT T E R S
THE CHALLENGE OF CHANGE
By Joanne Blier, MASBO President
It seems like every August we ask the same ques4on. Where did the summer go? If you're feeling a li=le overwhelmed at this 4me of year, take comfort in knowing you're not alone. As school business officials, we juggle an array of complex responsibili4es and at this 4me of year, we couldn't be busier. We are closing the books on one year while geEng the new year started. We are gree4ng new hires and bidding farewell to re4rees. We may be building new buildings or puEng the finishing touches on renova4ons, seEng up bus routes, procuring supplies and equipment, nego4a4ng contracts, prepping for our EOYR, E&D, and...FY17. And the cycle begins again.
During this busy 4me of year be sure to take 4me for yourself and a=end a MASBO bi-‐
monthly or the fall ins4tute and take advantage of all MASBO has to offer. Each of our members has unique talents and skills, and we can learn so much from each other! When I created the theme last year, "The Challenge of Change", I had in mind the many changes we had experienced during FY15 and would encounter over the course of FY16. Many of our Annual Ins4tute presenta4ons gave us a sneak peak of changes that were headed our way in FY16 such as new E-‐Rate regula4ons, student ac4vi4es audit guidelines, and federal grant requirements. We will be hearing more in depth presenta4ons on some of these and other topics this fall. Our MASBO pre-‐conference feature speaker, Tiffany Winters, Esq. will return in November to share her vast knowledge to help us with the implementa4on of the new federal grant requirements.
Remember, while you are only one person, you can make a tremendous difference, networking and being ac4ve in MASBO will allow you to mul4ply your effec4veness! See you this fall!
MASSACHUSETTS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALS - WWW.MASBO.ORG
The High-Speed Full-Color Solution
That Can Fulfill All Your School Needs.
RISO ComColor® X1
Will improve students’ comprehension and retention of facts with
affordable color printing and customized instructional documents.
• Productive: Maximize efficiency of teachers’ time with reliable
150ppm full-color printing. Print 30 handouts in 15 Seconds.
• Green: Uses 50% less electricity than a photocopier.
• Budget Friendly:
Lowest total print costs.
• Reliable: Built to last.
Proven durability to meet
the demands of school
printing environments.
Ideal Solution for:
• Handouts and progress reports
• Newsletters and announcements
• Forms and schedules
• Envelopes and letterhead
For more information about all RISO ComColor X1
Inkjet Printers and Digital Duplicators visit
us.riso.com or call 800-663-3031
RISO Inc.
8 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA
us.riso.com
Speed up your color communications
MASBO MATTERS - PAGE 3
FALL 2015
MASBO MATTERS
Fall 2015 – Volume 17, Issue 1
MASBO MATTERS
A quarterly newsle=er published by the Massachuse=s Associa4on of School Business Officials.
2015-‐16 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT – Joanne M. Blier
PRESIDENT-‐ELECT – Richard G. Bedard, Jr.
VICE-‐PRESIDENT – Anne L. Gula4
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT – Mary C. DeLai
SECRETARY/TREASURER – Candice Walczak
DIRECTORS
Howard G. Barber
Daniel Deedy
Cynthia D. Mahr
Barry Nectow
Samuel A. Rippen
Amelia C. Tierney
LIAISONS
Brian E. Allen – Legisla4ve Liaison
Stephanie L. Fisk – Newsle=er Editor
John M. Manzi – Technology Liaison
Jay Sullivan – DESE Liaison
PUBLICATIONS POLICY
The materials published in “MASBO Ma=ers” represent the ideas, beliefs, or opinions of those who write them and are not necessarily the views or policies of MASBO.
MASBO STAFF
David A. Verdolino
Execu4ve Director
[email protected]
John A. Craion
Leadership Development and Training Coordinator
[email protected]
Susan McLaughlin
Execu4ve Assistant and Membership & Events Coordinator
[email protected]
MASBO OFFICE
87 Elm Street, Suite 1
Hopkinton, MA 01748
Telephone – (978) 452-‐7044
FAX – (978) 452-‐7114
www.masbo.org
11
FALL 2015
FEATURES
9 IT PAYS TO SLEEP
10 USBAR, YEAR TWO
11 JOHN STALKER INSTITUTE AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
12 A DAY AT HARDING’S BEACH 15 MASSACHUSETTS WELLNESS PROGRAM
28
18 WHAT’S FOR LUNCH?
20 THE MANY FACES OF FINANCIAL FRAUD 28 DOES YOUR ENERGY STRATEGY MAKE THE GRADE 29 PROPOSED RECOMMENDATIONS TO SUPPORT EFFECTIVE & EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES
RECOGNITIONS 21 Mary Ellen Dunn, 2015 President’s Award Recipient
21-‐26
22 Sandra Guryan, 2015 John F. Conway Award Recipient
23 Gary Cos4n, 2015 Donald D. Johnson Award Recipient
24 Friend of MASBO Award Recipients
26 Jay Sullivan -‐ Honorary Past President
8
DEPARTMENTS
1 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Joanne Blier, MASBO President
The Challenge of Change
5 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE David Verdolino, Execu4ve Director
What’s On My Mind
8 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Brian Allen, Legisla4ve Liaison
16
16 LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING UPDATE
Professional Development & Licensure Update MASSACHUSETTS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALS - WWW.MASBO.ORG
FALL 2015
WHAT’S ON MY MIND By Dave Verdolino, MASBO Execu4ve Director
I en4tled this ar4cle as I did and not “What I Did on My Summer Vaca4on” because even I wouldn’t have read that. Instead, I’ll offer a few mental 4dbits as another school year gets underway (MASBO’s 58th, if you are keeping score).
Ah, the beginning of a new school year, and with it comes the usual…tears, whining, tantrums and cries of “no, no!, NO!!!” and “I miss summer!”. Of course, I’m talking about the teachers’ reac4on; then the kids show up1.
Over the years in Medway, we would marvel at how much more work we could get done in the summer (though we never, ever did “catch up” completely), and muse about how wonderful things could be in terms of efficiency if the students stayed home for a year.
Well, not really. Is there anything be=er in our profession than seeing freshly-‐faced li=le ones returning to school in September? To them, school can s4ll be magical, their teachers god-‐like, and the fruits of their educa4on consumed with fervor. I sincerely miss that; alas, no such fresh-‐faced li=le ones make return pilgrimages to MASBO World Headquarters.
If indeed this is the 58th school year of MASBO’s (founded in 1957) existence, think about how things have changed, such as:
-‐
The facili4es (although, sadly, s4ll too many children may go to the same facility as their academic great-‐great-‐grandparents);
-‐
The nature of the curriculum (think about the contents of history and science textbooks from that era); -‐
The authority of teaching professionals and administrators, and the homogeneity of par4cipants in all cons4tuent groups (including MASBO membership);
-‐
One word – technology; -‐
One more word – regula4ons.
The point is that 4mes change and even the oi-‐invoked omni-‐purpose ra4onale “that’s the way we’ve always done it” is, in the long run, more temporary than permanent. Public educa4on, in some people’s eyes, has not radically changed since the late 19th century. Whether or not that’s the case, it is worth savoring the inspira4on and invigora4on afforded by that one aspect that has largely not changed…the children’s return!
FALL 2015
What’s on My Mind -‐ Continued
What DOES need to change, as MASBO has (and others have) espoused for about a decade, is the Founda4on Budget (FB). In this case, “the way we’ve always done it” extends back to 1993 (with some minor tweaks along the way since then), and its opera4on served many Massachuse=s students very well.
But, as experience on the Founda4on Budget Review Commission has shown, it no longer serves all students in terms of adequacy and equitability. The Commission released an ini4al proposal to update the FB, significantly adding to alloca4ons for health insurance and special educa4on. That’s a good start (the Commission’s life was extended in order to consider addi4onal measures to further augment the FB); but it carries an ini4al price tag – $500 million increase to Chapter 70 aid – that is prohibi4ve in the current environment of poli4cal economics.
An organiza4on called Raise Up Massachuse=s is seeking to change that environment, by challenging “the way we’ve always done it”. In this case, “it” is a single state income tax rate, something embodied in the Massachuse=s cons4tu4on. One of the expressed objec4ves of the addi4onal revenue projected from a second income tax rate is educa4on (infrastructure is the other).
However, one might be poli4cally disposed to any changes to state tax policy, legisla4on or cons4tu4onal authority, it is important to be an ac4ve par4cipant in the discussion of this issue. MASBO and its members, on behalf of their “cons4tuents” throughout public educa4on, must obtain fluency in what will likely be a seminal issue during the next few years.
We fancy ourselves (rightly) as experts at the nexus of public educa4on, finance and poli4cs. Advocacy (for or against the proposed cons4tu4onal change) is one thing; knowledge of the topic enhances our members’ (and organiza4on’s) value – both perceived and real.
Poli4cal iner4a at the na4onal level (some, including many of the principals involved, have called it “dysfunc4on”) is so ingrained that it may seem like “the way it’s always been done”, which of course is not the case. But that iner4a is certainly a current phenomenon.
One rather obvious reason why this must change is the following number: 18,401,000,000,000. Look at that number and see if you know what it represents. It is the amount of dollars ($18.4 Trillion) reflec4ng our country’s na4onal debt as of the date of this wri4ng2, amoun4ng to $154,587 per taxpayer2. To put this number in perspec4ve, in the year 2000, the na4onal debt (total and per taxpayer) were $5.6 Trillion and $54,126, respec4vely (and the federal government was opera4ng at an annual surplus of $235 Billion) 2.
FALL 2015
What’s on My Mind -‐ Continued
A dire predicament, to be sure; but, in my view, it is not hopeless. The current federal budget deficit (the one-‐year excess of spending over revenues) is just under $500 billion2 (a recent ar4cle in the Boston Globe put the figure at $460 billion…close enough). Fortunately, the interest on the burgeoning debt has not risen propor4onately, due to the historically low cost of borrowing. Nevertheless, we are currently adding a half-‐trillion dollars per year to our na4onal debt, something that intui4vely seems contrary to our financial interest. Yet only two years ago, that annual budget deficit was over $1 trillion; it has been cut in half, not by poli4cal policies, but by the normal waning and (lately) waxing of the economic cycle.
Couldn’t the seemingly lost art of compromise provide an answer to the remaining deficit? Imagine having the absolute authority over Congress to direct them to eliminate the remaining $500 billion deficit…half of it through taxa4on (by increasing revenue), the other half through budget cuts (decreasing expenditures). Guaranteed, republicans/conserva4ves will hate the former part of that direc4ve, and democrats/liberals will equally hate the la=er, a situa4on that does have a sort of appropriate feel, in a King Solomon sense. But neither side appears ready to give an inch, so why not consider “spliEng the baby” in order to get something done? Finding $250 billion in budget cuts wouldn’t be easy (remember, that represents a lot of lost federally-‐funded jobs and economic ac4vity); neither would levying $250 billion in new taxes (who would ever want to willingly pay more in taxes?). But if the task was accomplished, and the budget reset to equilibrium, then future changes to the federal opera4ng budget could be made on their own merits, including the degree to which they reflect debt reduc4on (i.e., addressing the $18.4 trillion that is s4ll owed), macroeconomics, and demands for services by cons4tuents.
This wishful thinking is perhaps over-‐simplified and certainly not sound economic policy; in fact, many economists eschew the call for a balanced federal budget. But 18,401,000,000,000 is a BIG number; what it represents has tripled over the last 15 years, having sextupled over the 20 years before that. Those fresh-‐faced kids (remember them?) couldn’t possibly comprehend the number one trillion (a million million), let alone eighteen trillion, and whatever number it might otherwise rise to upon their gradua4on from public school. I believe that we (adults) might make the case that we deserve be=er; the kids definitely do.
1 The source of this a=empt at humor is my brother, a school psychologist and amateur comedian.
2 Source – www.usdebtclock.org , an interac4ve, informa4ve and interes4ng website that includes a feature called the Debt Clock Time Machine; duly “transported” back in 4me, it es4mates the total na4onal debt in 1980 was less than $1 Trillion.
FALL 2015
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Submi=ed by Brian Allen, Legisla4ve Liaison
MASBO has filed legisla4on that would provide creditable service for members; several bills that would allow for the crea4on of a special educa4on stabiliza4on account in districts; and a bill that would assign elevator fines to contracted vendors, if the district contracts out for such services. With regards to creditable service, S1392 and H2389, if approved, would allow members, aier ten years of service, to purchase up three years related creditable service consis4ng of payment of 17% of current salary for each year of service purchased.
Both of these bills have been referred to the Joint Commi=ee on Public Service. A hearing has been scheduled on this bill. With regards to special educa4on stabiliza4on account, a district, through majority vote of School Commi=ee, may establish and appropriate or transfer money to a reserve fund, up to 2% of the annual Net School Spending Amount,
to be u4lized in the upcoming fiscal year or years, to pay, without further appropria4on, for unan4cipated and/or unbudgeted costs of special educa4on.
There are three bills (H424, H1831 and S1089) that have been filed. All of these bills currently are in the Joint Commi=ee on Municipali4es and Regional Government. Finally, S1290 has been filed regarding elevator fines. The language of the bill states, “should the owner or operator of the elevator contract another en4ty for the purpose of maintaining the quality of the elevator, all fines due to expired cer4fica4on shall be assessed to the contracted en4ty.” This bill has been referred to the commi=ee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. Further updates on these bills will be provided on the MASBO website and in the next newsle=er. MASSACHUSETTS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALS - WWW.MASBO.ORG
MASBO MATTERS - PAGE 9 FALL 2015
It Pays to Sleep
How New London Public Schools Saved $100,000
As a school manager, you’re used to championing costs-‐saving ini4a4ves. Here’s one that a surprising number of administrators overlook: computer power management.
Computers can account for as much as 20% of school energy costs. According to Energy Star, almost any school can save $10-‐100 per computer annually by using soiware features that automa4cally put computers into a low-‐power “sleep mode” when they aren’t being used. Think of them as “occupancy sensors” for computers. Thousands of schools are taking advantage of the opportunity to stretch 4ght budgets.
While computer power management is a business no-‐brainer, it can be challenging for business managers with no background in network administra4on to advocate for changes in IT. You really need a “Green” IT expert by your side.
Now you have one, courtesy Energy Star. Through the Low Carbon IT Campaign (a na4onwide effort to assist and recognize organiza4ons for reducing the energy consumed by their IT equipment), Energy Star provides school districts contempla4ng computer energy efficiency measures with free phone consulta4ons. Energy Star’s technical experts answer ques4ons, address concerns, and iden4fy solu4ons, saving your IT professionals hours of work. One phone call with an Energy Star tech expert typically transforms an energy-‐saving idea into a concrete implementa4on plan in less than 60 minutes. If necessary, they’re also available to your IT staff for troubleshoo4ng. They’ve helped hundreds of school districts save energy in this way, and since Energy Star is taxpayer-‐funded, it costs you nothing.
Consider New London Public Schools. Now that the district’s 2,600 computers automa4cally shut down at 6:00 PM every weekday, the district is paying nearly $100,000 less for electricity – every year. The solu4on they deployed provides New London’s IT administrator with an easy way to configure each computer to save energy — no ma=er what pla|orm it runs (Microsoi, Apple, Chrome, etc.) It’s also easy to exclude computers that need to stay on overnight for remote access or for other reasons. For cash strapped schools, that’s meaningful savings. For students, it’s meaningful in other ways, because saving energy also means reducing pollu4on. Thanks to the leadership of Business Manager Maria Z. Whalen and CIO Tim Wheeler, New London Public Schools is elimina4ng 362 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually – by giving their computers a li=le extra rest.
Visit the Energy Star website for more informa4on and to request a free technical consulta4on.
FALL 2015
USBAR, Year Two
Submi=ed by: Dan Deedy, School Business Administrator, Leominster Public Schools
Chair, Urban School Business Administrator Roundtable
Welcome back! It’s a cliché but so true that once the Fourth of July passes, the summer is over. Dare I say, once the final bus rolled out of the District’s buildings last June, the summer ended. We are back as is USBAR – Urban School Business Administrators’ Roundtable -‐-‐ for our second year. Our inaugural mee4ng of the new school year will be held on Friday, October 9, 2015. Subsequent mee4ngs will be held on December 11 (tenta4ve date), January 15, March 11 and June 10, 2016. We’ve also iden4fied a new home at the Devens Commons Center. We have many challenges within the urban seEng including but not limited to mul4cultural educa4on, achievement gaps and socio-‐economic shor|alls. In a recent ar4cle from the June 2015 Commonwealth magazine (thank you Dave Verdolino for sharing this ar4cle with me this summer), Benjamin Forman, research director of MassINC wrote that “Gateway City leaders are puEng considerable effort into ini4a4ves to be=er prepare students for the demands of today’s workforce….which comes with a price tag that is increasingly out of reach.” He con4nues further in his ar4cle that “Gateway City voters are eager to see more transforma4ve change to their local public educa4on systems.” As we begin our second year together, I am eager to present a series of speakers from various seEngs including academia, public policy and educa4on who have studied the urban seEng within their venue and have thoughts and ideas that can enable student success and a possible transforma4on of challenges within urban educa4on. We also have a number of unanswered ques4ons from last year where our discussions were preliminary and offered the appe4te for more detailed discourse. This lis4ng includes further discussion on the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), impending final report from the Founda4on Budget Review Commission, resource alloca4on and best prac4ces. For those who may be new to an urban district, I encourage your par4cipa4on. Please feel free to email me so that I may include you in our email distribu4on lis4ng. Have a great school year. I look forward to our renewed discussions this year.
FALL 2015
John Stalker Institute and Professional Development
By Candice Walczak, School Business Administrator, Northampton Public Schools
While trying to understand the new federal standards for hiring a food service director in May, I was asked by Ka4e Mille= at DESE if I wanted to a=end a mee4ng of the John Stalker Advisory Commi=ee. Realizing that I needed to learn more about the many newer issues in food service, as I would be working with a new director, I quickly agreed – and am I glad that I did!
I, as with many of you, have heard of the John Stalker Ins4tute (JSI) for many years. I knew they offered professional development for food service directors. But a=ending a 5 hour mee4ng showed me that they do so much more! The mee4ng was actually their annual planning conference where they evaluated their member survey on what training would be beneficial to their members – almost the exact same process I would be undertaking over the following two days as part of the MASBO Board of Director’s Annual Planning Conference.
I watched and listened (and slightly par4cipated in!) a large group of people consis4ng of food service directors, as well as DESE Nutri4on, USDA, and John Stalker Ins4tute staff, review the membership survey results and talk about training priori4es for the upcoming school year. They analyzed the results of when staff was most likely to a=end trainings (evenings, to most people’s surprise) and the type of training their audience preferred (hands on workshops and classes, but not webinars). Along the way, I learned much more about the offerings already available and the challenges they face in providing professional development to the food service staffs in our schools.
Yes, we can send our food service director to a 1 to 3 day workshop on various topics. Or send our director to take classes at their Management Ins4tute. But did you know that with their many “Workshops to Go” (or W2G’s), they will come to your school district and do training on site for your staff on topics like Food Allergies, Gluten Fee Meals, Focus on the Customer, Back to Basics: Fruit and Vegetables, and Knife Skills? (Our worker’s compensa4on carriers must love that last PD offering!) There are also regional workshops on topics like Healthy Cuisine for Kids and Healthy Breakfast for Kids. The la=er two workshops actually serve far more staff members than the cer4fica4on program and management classes do.
The biggest challenge I heard: Districts not understanding that all food service staff members, as well as their Director, need professional development. I didn’t exactly crawl under a table when I heard a director say “My Business Administrator” or “My Superintendent” “just don’t see the need”. And “teachers get paid to a=end PD, why can’t the food service staff?” But I did wonder if everyone in the room knew that there was a business administrator in their midst!
I heard terms like ‘return on investment’ and discussion around decreased liability if staff be=er understands food allergy issues. A few 4mes, I forgot I wasn’t in a room full of school business administrators!
The new federal standards that started on July 1 do not only 4ghten the minimum educa4on level we need to comply with when hiring a new food service director…
they also set annual hours of professional development for all food service staff. The amount of training required varies based on the work schedule per week. (This informa4on is all available on DESE’s website.) JSI, in conjunc4on with the MA School Nurse’s Associa4on, can provide most, if not all, of the annual training required…
and at minimal cost to the school district. Their programs start at $299 for a two hour program that could encompass your en4re food service staff. Yes, in addi4on, we need to pay staff to a=end. But as a speaker said at this mee4ng…we pay teachers to a=end their PD days. Many of us also pay paras/ESPs to a=end PD days. Why not food service staff members?
In my district, 2 hours of PD would cost under $1,000. Significant to the program budget, but not significant when compared to what we spend for other PD in the district. Since the federal requirement is for annual training, we need to make this an annual budget cost – either in the food service revolving budget or in the school commi=ee budget.
So as you plan how to comply with the federal training standards, remember the John Stalker Ins4tute…a hidden gem that we need to take advantage of more oien.
FALL 2015
A Day at Harding’s Beach
Submi=ed by: Dan Deedy, School Business Administrator, Leominster Public Schools
My wife Anne and I are empty nesters. We have been since last fall when our youngest son, Timothy, matriculated to the University of Maryland. Our oldest son, Michael, has been working in Boston for three years for a recrui4ng firm, though, I am pleased to write, he finally listened to me a year ago and took the necessary MTEL exams aier preaching to him for years “Mike, you’ll be a great teacher/coach someday. You have a unique gii working with kids.” All that said, the dinner conversa4on in the Deedy household the past year has shiied from talk surrounding college applica4ons, work experiences of a neophyte in the working world, and family ma=ers to the daily rou4ne of my wife and I. Oien 4mes, my wife will be talking about something, she’ll pause, look me straight in the eye and ask, “Okay, who are you talking to now? I can see your lips moving, your head bobbing. Big D (my nickname), I know you all too well aier 26 years.” I pause, regroup ever so quickly, smile and follow-‐up on her conversa4on in mid-‐sentence as if I heard every single word stated and syllable pronounced. This past summer, while my wife and I were siEng on Harding’s Beach in Chatham (our favorite home away from home), I had one of those infamous dinner conversa4ons again amidst the sand and sun. Quicker than I could say Jaws (this summer marked the 40th anniversary of the Spielberg blockbuster movie) I felt a rather abrupt jolt to my lei side. “Big D” my wife u=ered. “Who are you talking to now? I can see you’re really lost in thought there. I know it’s not the seal out there in the water nor the lifeguards out for their aiernoon swim.” I rally again with a bit of a grin. “I’m thinking” I coyly reply. Anne chuckles, “this ought to be a good story. It’s a beau4ful day here on the beach. Don Kent (remember him from yesteryear at WBZ?) could not have forecasted a more glorious day and you’re thinking. Right! Here, take this bo=led water. I can’t wait to hear this story. Thinking….on vaca4on! I’m all ears!” So I shared my story that I was wri4ng this glorious day on the beach. A story regarding service. That warm, incredibly beau4ful day on Harding’s Beach was the inspira4on to write this ar4cle. It’s one month later. Harding’s Beach is long closed for the season. The seals have likely found warmer waters to swim in and the sun is seEng earlier and earlier each day. School buses are rolling. We are all deeply immersed in EOYR and perhaps ini4ated the FY17 budget process. Mercy! as Ned Mar4n Red Sox Hall of Fame broadcaster for the Red Sox oien said. But the passion of service, of which I spoke of last February when I introduced myself to the membership as a candidate for the MASBO board is as strong today than perhaps any 4me in my professional career. Amidst the waves, the seagulls, the cha=er of young children and a few college students to our right (oh to be 20 something again), I was deeply immersed in thought about my ini4al Board experiences as I sat on the beach that warm early August day.
The MASBO Board convened its annual planning conference in early June. Admi=edly, I had the deer in the headlight look those two days. I knew most Board members but I had not worked with them to the degree I was during those two days. And we worked. For the be=er part of a day and a half, we discussed, debated, ques4oned, ar4culated, socialized and laughed amongst each other as we moved forward the agenda of this very proud organiza4on for the coming new year. For myself, I came to know a group of people very well, people who I knew as colleagues that I could now call friends. I went back to my room the first evening exhausted but excited. There was much to be done and I could not begin the work fast enough.
FALL 2015
A Day at Harding’s Beach - Continued
Some six weeks later, the MASBO Board met again following the conclusion of the NEASBO Academy in Nashua, New Hampshire. In the intervening weeks between the June Planning Conference and the NEASBO Academy, I had the opportunity to reflect on the tasks at hand – chair of the Urban School Business Administrator Roundtable or as we say amongst ourselves, USBAR, contribu4ng member of the Professional Development Commi=ee, contributor to MASBO Ma=ers and co-‐chair (along with Cindy Mahr of the Weston Public Schools) of the newly revamped Fall Ins4tute. It is a great deal of work, a tremendous responsibility but a worthy challenge that I have embraced enthusias4cally.
In the next several weeks, you will hear cha=er perhaps amongst colleagues though most certainly at MASBO events about opportuni4es on the MASBO Board effec4ve next May, 2016. Please consider it. You have an incredible opportunity to enact change that not only has a posi4ve impact for our students but also serve as a catalyst for support of your colleagues. Our jobs are complex. The Board appointment, as I have realized in a rela4vely short 4me, gives you the opportunity to facilitate and enable paths for your colleagues to travail the ever changing landscape of school business administra4on. There is a 4me commitment. Absolutely. But that can be said of many worthy endeavors. As you ponder this opportunity, feel free to take a walk along the closest beach. I’ll bring the bo=led water.
Welcome back. Have a great year!
FALL 2015
THE TWO O’CLOCK BUS
(News About Us)
Submi=ed by: David Verdolino, MASBO Execu4ve Director
[Editor’s Note – “ The Two O’Clock Bus” is designed to be a regular offering in MASBO Ma=ers to keep the membership apprised of individuals’ comings and goings, significant achievements, and other news. Don’t miss the “bus”…PLEASE CONTRIBUTE news to the MASBO office for pos4ng here!]
Kristen Behnke, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance for the Pi=sfield Public Schools, was the MASBO winner of the Emerging School Business Leaders Scholarship and will par4cipate in a customized workshop for all scholarship recipients at the upcoming 2015 ASBO Annual Mee4ng & Expo in Grapevine, Texas.
Mary Ellen Dunn, in addi4on to beginning as Deputy Superintendent for Administra4on and Finance for the The Public Schools of Brookline, had an ar4cle on the topic of “Success Through Collabora4on” published in the June, 2015 issue of ASBO School Business Affairs.
Peter Gray, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance for the Carver Public Schools, began work in a Doctorate program at the University of New England; his disserta4on is studying the effec4veness of non-‐tradi4onal superintendents (usually from the financial field) in Massachuse=s.
Avi Urbas, Director of Finance & Opera4ons for the Manchester-‐Essex Regional School District, recently joined the board at the Massachuse=s Associa4on of Regional Schools (MARS); in that capacity, he will assume the role of liaison to MASBO.
Peter DeRoeve re4red this summer as Newsle=er Editor and Board Liaison. We appreciate the 4me and dedica4on that Peter has put forth in arranging and edi4ng MASBO Ma=ers for many years and recognize his energy and support of MASBO in this capacity. MASBO Ma=ers serves as a professional newsle=er for members, and Peter’s commitment has taken many hours of Peter’s “re4red” 4me. Thank you Peter!
As always, to submit 2:00 bus information, Dave and Sue can be reached by phone at (978) 452-‐7044, or via e-‐mail at [email protected] and [email protected] , respectively.
FALL 2015
Massachusetts is Rewarding Small Businesses for Implementing Wellness Programs
Submi=ed by: Massachuse=s Department of Public Health
The Massachuse=s Wellness Tax Credit gives small businesses in Massachuse=s a state tax credit for having an employee wellness program. This is an excellent opportunity for employers to help their employees live healthier lifestyles.
Massachuse=s businesses that employ 200 or fewer workers may qualify for the tax credit for up to 25% of the cost of implemen4ng a cer4fied wellness program.
To receive cer4fica4on, a business must:
1. Check to see that the business and wellness program qualify by visi4ng the Massachuse=s Wellness Tax Credit page at mass.gov/wellnesstaxcredit. 2. Cer4fy its wellness plan by filling out an online applica4on form by December 31, 2015 (h=p://webapps.ehs.state.ma.us/wellnessTaxCredit/)
This tax credit is an excellent opportunity for small businesses to improve their employees’ health, but funds are limited, so apply today!
FALL 2015
Professional Development Committee Update
Submi=ed by the MASBO Professional Development Commi=ee
During the Annual Ins4tute you might remember, Mary Delai and Dave Verdolino conducted an engaging and produc4ve session on the mid-‐cycle review of MASBO’s Strategic Plan 2013-‐2018. During the session, members responded in real-‐4me to the areas they felt were most important. In addi4on, during table discussions we explored the details of what needed to be priori4zed. The ideas were listed on index cards and submi=ed to MASBO for considera4on.
The MASBO Board of Directors have been using that feedback to help formulate the direc4on of the organiza4on. For the Professional Development Commi=ee, we are u4lizing your sugges4ons on Strategic Goal #1 to help us plan future professional development.
Here are some of the highlights from the responses:
•!
•!
•!
•!
•!
•!
•!
•!
•!
•!
•!
•!
•!
•!
Provide self-‐paced on-‐line professional development
More “Save the Drive” discussions
Tag P.D. by level of exper4se
Webcasts for new business managers
Concurrent sessions with beginners and advanced (or veteran)
Improve differen4ated professional development
Recording professional development sessions
Regional vs. Municipal vs. Urban
Technology training
“Speed da4ng” for MASBO
Develop “tracks” during full-‐day trainings
Webinars
Tap the town treasurer’s office for professional development
Sample Opera4ons Manual
The underlying theme for most of the responses was differen4ated instruc4on. Differen4ated instruc4on can be for the presenta4on, such as on-‐line professional development, webcasts and recording our training sessions to differen4ated instruc4on for the audience, such as beginners vs. advanced, municipal vs. regional, urban districts and collabora4ves. In addi4on, MASBO’s Professional Development Commi=ee would like to provide instruc4on in all of the eight DESE subject ma=ers. To this end, MASBO will be making a concerted effort to provide more “Save the Drive” lunch4me trainings that you may par4cipate from your office and explore self-‐paced on-‐line professional development. The Board is researching different ways to bring on-‐line professional development to you so that you can par4cipate according to your schedule. We believe the on-‐line professional development will also help us provide membership with an i n d u c 4 o n p ro g ra m fo r m e m b e rs n o t par4cipa4ng in the MASBO/WSU (Worcester State University) program that need an avenue to DESE licensure. By having these professional development modules, MASBO, DESE or Superintendents, may recommend specific learning modules for school business manager licensure applicants.
If you have any recommenda4ons or comments for the professional development commi=ee, please feel free to contact John Craion or Board Members Rick Bedard, Amy Tierney, Cindy Mahr or Dan Deedy.
FALL 2015
Professional Licensure Renewal
2015 Addendum: Guidelines for Massachusetts Educators
Submi=ed by the MASBO Professional Development Commi=ee
Rick Bedard, John Craion, Dan Deedy, Cindy Mahr, Amy Tierney MASBO’s Professional Development Commi=ee would like to bring a new licensure addendum to your a=en4on. This has implica4ons for everyone seeking licensure renewal. This is rela4vely new and even though it was published back in January it was not en4rely certain un4l recently that is applies to School Business Administrators (SBA). The “Guidelines: 2015 Addendum” can be downloaded from the DESE website or the MASBO website under September Bi-‐Monthly documents. MASBO has contacted DESE and determined that the “Guidelines 2015 Addendum” applies to all School Business Administrators. More importantly, it will factor into any licensed SBA looking to renew their license aier July 1, 2016.
As you know, you currently need 150 Professional Development Points (PDP’s) every five (5) years in order to renew your license. The PDP’s are broken down into the customary categories or strands. MASBO helps you iden4fy those strands by making a nota4on on each professional development opportunity or agenda.
The major change with the addendum calls for all educators, including SBA’s, to have 15 PDPs related to SEI or English as a Second Language AND 15 PDP’s related to strategies for effec4ve schooling with disabili4es and instruc4on of students with diverse learning styles (in short, Special Educa4on) of the total 150 PDP’s. Due to this change, we are recommending that all SBA’s begin to seek out professional development opportuni4es in those two categories. MASBO will now begin to offer more ELL/
special educa4on opportuni4es and iden4fy these two strands on our agendas. In addi4on, please consider par4cipa4ng in such professional development at your district or educa4onal collabora4ve.
There is also some new language about assessments being a=ached to groupings of 10 PDP’s. We are currently trying to obtain more clarifica4on. There is much to decipher.
For those contempla4ng renewing your license before July 1, 2016, DESE has told MASBO that your license expira4on date applies, not the date you renew your license. So applying early for a license that expires July 1, 2016 or aier will not avoid the new regula4ons. We presented an overview of this informa4on at the September 30th Bi-‐Monthly mee4ng and are planning an October “Save the Drive” session with more informa4on. We are also looking to have someone from DESE discuss this during the “Save the Drive”.
FALL 2015
What’s For Lunch?
2015 School Nutrition Updates at a Glance
Compiled by: Maria Hall MSRD School Nutri4on Associa4on of Massachuse=s Nutri4on Commi=ee Chair
RegulaWon
Reimbursement Rate
Impact
Business Manager Impact
Breakfast
Payment Category Non-‐Severe Need
Severe Need
Paid $0.29 $0.29
Reduced $1.36 $1.69
Free $1.66 $1.99
Lunch
Work with your School Nutri4on Director (SND) to make sure your program maximizes par4cipa4on to bring more federal and state dollars to your district.
Reimbursement + Meal Charge should be considered when menu planning to ensure a sustainable program. Payment Category Maximum Rate Maximum Rate +6 cents
Paid $0.37 $0.43
Reduced $2.84 $2.90
Free $3.24 $3.30
Professional Standards SND’s hired on or aier July 1, 2015 Be sure to review new professional standards when are subject to the new educa4on hiring and work with exis4ng directors around requirements. New requirements annual con4nuing educa4on opportuni4es. Sample can be found at : h=p://
job descrip4ons and other resources are available professionalstandards.nal.usda.gov at h=p://professionalstandards.nal.usda.gov
Another great resource for you and your director is the School Nutri4on Associa4on of Massachuse=s.
FALL 2015
What’s For Lunch? -‐ Continued
2015 School Nutrition Updates at a Glance
RegulaWon
Impact
Business Manager Impact
Child Nutri4on Reauthoriza4on
The current law, the Healthy, Hunger-‐Free Make sure Congress passes a strong bill that Kids Act of 2010 is due for reauthoriza4on ensures adequate funding and appropriate by September 30, 2015.
program policy, allowing you to serve the children within your district.
The Child Nutri4on Reauthoriza4on Act authorizes all of the federal child nutri4on Be Familiar with SNA’s RecommendaWons for programs, including the School Breakfast, CNR 2015:
and Na4onal School Lunch Program. 1. Increase the per meal reimbursement for During this process, Congress will debate school breakfast and lunch by 35 cents to new funding levels, ways to strengthen and ensure School Food Authori4es (SFAs) can improve the programs, and develop new afford to meet federal requirements.
policies to make sure children have access 2. Maintain the Target 1 sodium level to healthy, nutri4ous food.
reduc4ons and suspend implementa4on of further targets.
3. Grant individual SFAs the authority to decide whether students are required to take a fruit or vegetable as part of a reimbursable meal.
4. Restore the ini4al requirement that at least half of grains offered through school lunch and breakfast programs be whole grain rich.
5. Allow all food items that are permi=ed to be served as part of a reimbursable meal to be sold at any 4me as an a la carte item.
6. Modify Sec4on 205, Paid Lunch Equity of the Healthy, Hunger-‐Free Kids Act, by exemp4ng SFAs that had a posi4ve fund balance at the end of the previous school year.
7. Provide program simplifica4on.
Bills in Congress
Child Nutri4on Bills to watch:
As a Business Official it important to be aware • H.R. 3316: School Food of bills that could both posi4vely or nega4vely Moderniza4on Act
impact the school nutri4on programs. Become • H.R. 1504 Reducing Federal familiar with current bills in congress and Mandates on School Lunch Act
consider advoca4ng for those important to For a full list check out the School Nutri4on your school community.
Associa4on’s website:
h=ps://schoolnutri4on.org/
There are many organiza4ons that can act as a CNBillsIntroduced/
resource to you including but not limited to: School Nutri4on Associa4on, Food Research Ac4on Commi=ee, Share our Strength, Project Bread, Feeding America, etc.
FALL 2015
The Many Faces of Financial Fraud
Submitted by: Tamara Indianer
The Many Faces of Financial Fraud
Whether you’ve received e-‐mail for financial assistance or were affected by the security breach that involved retailers around the holidays, you’ve been exposed to financial fraud. According to the U.S. Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force, these schemes encompass a variety of things from Ponzi schemes to tax scams. Here are a few of the decep4ons that all Americans should be educated about:
IdenWty the`: When someone uses your personal informa4on, such as your name, Social Security number, or credit card number without your permission, it’s considered iden4ty thei. Iden4ty thieves may open a new account or access your exis4ng accounts. You can prevent iden4ty thei by guarding personal informa4on, and:
•
Only providing your Social Security number to a trusted source and for a valid reason
•
Using strong and different passwords •
Limi4ng your informa4on on social media websites •
Carefully checking bank and credit card statements •
Reviewing your credit report periodically Elder fraud: The sad reality is that more than 90% of elder abuse is commi=ed by family members, most oien adult children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Some of the red flags include:
•
Increased ATM or credit card use
•
Unusual withdrawals or new individuals added to accounts
•
Bills going unpaid even though ample funds should be available
Tax refund fraud: Tax refund fraud occurs when criminals use real Social Security numbers to file fake returns for a refund. In 2013, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that tax related iden4ty thei complaints had risen to 43%, up from 15% in 2010. The FTC suggests protec4ng your personal informa4on by:
•
Locking your financial documents in a safe place at home
•
Keeping your wallet or purse in a secure spot at work3
•
Limi4ng the iden4fica4on you carry3
You can learn more about financial fraud by visi4ng StopFraud.gov. If you or someone you care about has become a vic4m of financial fraud, contact local authori4es as well as the Stop Fraud website.
1
National Council on Aging, “Top 8 Ways To Protect Yourself From Scams,” cited January 15, 2014 [http://
www.ncoa.org/enhance-economic-security/economic-security-Initiative/savvy-saving-seniors/top-8-ways-toprotect.html#sthash.wn69kdsU.dpuf]
2 Herb Weisbaum, “Identity thieves gear up to steal your tax refund,” January 14, 2014 [http://
www.today.com/money/identity-thieves-gear-steal-your-tax-refund-2D11910916]
3 FTC.gov, “How to Keep Your Personal Information Secure,” July 2012 [http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/
articles/0272-how-keep-your-personal-information-secure]
Submitted by Tamara Indianer, CFP®, AIF®, Regional VP, New England, Lincoln Investment; 95 Sawyer Road, Suite 430, Waltham,
MA 02453, (781) 647-3050, [email protected]. Advisory services offered through Capital Analysts, Inc. or Lincoln
Investment, Registered Investment Advisors. Securities offered through Lincoln Investment, Broker Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC.
FALL 2015
MARY ELLEN DUNN RECEIVES
2015 PRESIDENT’S AWARD
M A S B O P r e s i d e n t , M a r y D e L a i , presented the 2015 President’s Award to Mary Ellen Dunn, then of Lexington Public Schools, now in Brookline. In her nomina4on of Mary Ellen for the award, Mary a=ributed much of her own professional success as a School Business Official (considerable, in my o p i n i o n ) t o h e r p e r s o n a l a n d professional rela4onship with Mary Ellen.
Mary cited Mary Ellen’s numerous professional contribu4ons to MASBO, including: ini4a4ng and maintaining the MASBO website’s Bookshelf; sharing of best prac4ce documents and commentary, especially via the List Serve; being a frequent conference presenter; service on the commi=ee that led to implementa4on of the P-‐Card program; and her exemplary advocacy in cri4cal areas of educa4onal finance and policy. On top of that, Mary a=ests that Mary Ellen “demonstrated the tenets of strong stewardship leaving each district (par4cularly Na4ck and Lexington) in a be=er place than when she arrived.”
Mary’s summariza4on read as follows: “Mary Ellen has unselfishly given her 4me, energy and resources to MASBO members for the many years that she has been a MASBO member. She is dedicated to our profession as well as our organiza4on. She is a strong advocate for students and for the educa4onal needs of districts in the Commonwealth. She demonstrates the integrity, transparency, commitment, work ethic, professionalism, and exper4se that we all expect from a school business official but more than that, she has effec4vely modeled this behavior for so many of our members.”
Congratula4ons again, Mary Ellen; and best wishes in your new professional adventure!
**********************************************************************
Each year, the winner of the MASBO President’s Award receives a commemora4ve plaque, and his/her district receives a $1,000 cash award in the name of the recipient. Tradi4onally, it recognizes an individual who has contributed to the growth and improvement of MASBO.
Riso, Inc. is the long-‐4me, enthusias4c financial sponsor of the President’s Award.
FALL 2015
SANDRA GURYAN RECEIVES
2015 JOHN F. CONWAY AWARD
Long-‐4me Deputy Superintendent/Chief Administra4ve Officer for the Newton Public Schools, Sandra Guryan, received the 2015 John F. Conway Award, so named in honor of MASBO’s first Execu4ve Director. Sandy is a MASBO past president and board member, and for many years a staunch advocate of “all things MASBO”.
In nomina4ng Sandy to recognize her outstanding achievement, former Execu4ve Director John Craion a=ested that Sandy’s “service to MASBO on the Board of Directors actually contributed to changing the organiza4on by making it more accountable and effec4ve in mee4ng the needs of members. In addi4on, throughout her career, her service to individual members as a mentor or advisor has earned her the respect and credibility of the membership.”
In support of her nomina4on, the MASBO board received tes4monials from several of Sandy’s colleagues at the Newton Public Schools. Three colleagues wrote that, “The remarkable career accomplishments of…(Sandy) confirm the highest level of professional skills in all aspects of school business leadership and a unique and remarkable gii that makes her truly stand out among her peers.” Addi4onally, they cited Sandy’s “fostering (of) an unprecedented and valuable partnership…allowing the schools and the city to create an inclusive capital plan. Rarely in Newton’s history had such a concerted effort been made for capital improvement of facili4es and expansion born of a shared vision for the future of the city.”
Newton Superintendent David Fleishman termed Sandy “a trusted financial steward…(who) gained the full trust and confidence of School Commi=ee members, Aldermen, the Mayor, administra4ve colleagues, and many others.” He also offered that “The Newton Public Schools and City of Newton has benefi=ed from both the quan4ty and quality of her stellar work. Her skills as a planner, strategic thinker and collaborator are excep4onal.”
Congratula4ons, Sandy! In a high-‐profile district and environment, you truly stand out!
****************************************************************************
The recipient of the Conway Award receives a commemora4ve plaque and a $1,000 contribu4on to the district on his/her behalf. The award was established to recognize the accomplishments of individuals rela4ve to enhancing the effec4veness of a school district in addressing its educa4onal mission.
Sandy’s award was presented by Mr. Ken Pedicini, President of KenMark Office Systems, a long-‐
4me MASBO Affiliate and sponsor of this award.
FALL 2015
GARY COSTIN RECEIVES
DONALD D. JOHNSON AWARD
The Donald D. Johnson Award, also named in honor of a previous MASBO Execu4ve Director, was technically awarded to the Plymouth Public Schools, but the consensus awardee was MASBO member and Plymouth Business Manager, Gary Cos4n.
While this award has been made for the last four years to recognize meritorious district achievements, Gary’s Plymouth colleagues insisted that he be singled out for noteworthy efforts duly applicable to this award, including his spearheading of the following ini4a4ves:
-‐ Building of a state-‐of-‐the-‐art, Gold status LEED-‐cer4fied high school
-‐ Installa4on of solar panels over 90% of the new school’s roof, genera4ng enough power to cover 100% of the energy costs of running the building
-‐ Partnering with neighboring communi4es to develop a solar farm, and with it even more sustainable sources of power for Plymouth
-‐ Partnering with the district’s HR department to ini4ate an annual personnel audit; this was begun to maintain staffing during the Great Recession and con4nues today
In her nomina4on of Gary (notwithstanding the district-‐wide nature of this award), the principal of Plymouth North High School concluded with the following words: “Gary’s global approach has resulted in tremendous financial savings within our district. Due to his ini4a4ves and exper4se, the Plymouth Public School System has saved over $1 million annually for the last five years.” Calling Gary a “consummate professional…exemplary at his job” and “proudly represent(ing) the Plymouth Public School System with the highest integrity and work ethic”, she a=ested that “The Town of Plymouth and the school district have unwavering respect, admira4on, and support for Mr. Cos4n. Gary is the quiet leader behind the scenes who simply put – GETS THINGS DONE!”.
Quite an impressive tes4monial for an equally impressive MASBO member; congratula4ons, Gary!
****************************************************************************
The Plymouth school district received a commemora4ve plaque, as well as a $2,500 student scholarship award, generously donated by Voya Financial (formerly ING), the award’s sponsor. The Johnson award recognizes school districts for their efforts in developing cost efficient approaches to addressing par4cular opera4onal areas, that commonly tax the budgets of school systems, and are capable of being replicated by other districts throughout the Commonwealth.
FALL 2015
2015 FRIEND OF MASBO AWARDS
This was the 9th year in which individuals (both inside and outside of the organiza4on) received the designa4on of being a “Friend of MASBO”. Criteria for being considered eligible to receive this award include mee4ng one or more of the following:
-‐ Having made a significant contribu4on – whether by means of proac4ve involvement in the legisla4ve process, or the crea4on of a model program/
procedure, or the establishment of an exemplary standard or prac4ce, etc. – toward facilita4ng the process by which school business officials contribute to the educa4on of students in their school districts.
-‐ Having consistently, and on a long-‐term basis, provided significant assistance to MASBO in the implementa4on of its various func4ons and responsibili4es.
-‐ Having provided assistance to MASBO, which is considered “above and beyond” expecta4ons.
The following 2015 Friends of MASBO were recognized at this past year’s Annual Ins4tute:
-‐ State Representa4ve Alice Hanlon Peisch, co-‐chair of both the State’s Joint Educa4on Commi=ee and Founda4on Budget Review Commission, someone who clearly “gets it” regarding the need to enhance funding for public educa4on in the Commonwealth.
-‐ Ma=hew Gillis, former MASBO board member and current School Business Administrator for the Hull Public Schools; Ma=’s experience and vision led to the establishment of the annual Giving Tree and MASBO Social Responsibility Fund.
-‐ Patrick Roach, Chief Financial Officer for the Springfield Public Schools; Pat helped to establish, and for several years served as the primary instructor of, the MASBO Classified Personnel Training program, an extremely important and popular program.
FALL 2015
2015 FRIEND OF MASBO AWARDS -‐ CONTINUED
In addi4on, the following new Friends were recognized at the September Bi-‐Monthly Conference:
-‐
Robert Johnson, recently re4red from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Educa4on; for many years, Bob was John Craion’s primary DESE contact for assis4ng MASBO members in the licensing process, oien overcoming complicated situa4ons.
-‐
Stephen Hemman, recently re4red Execu4ve Director of Massachuse=s Associa4on of Regional Schools (MARS); Steve spearheaded a number of successful legisla4ve ac4ons leading to passage of laws benefiEng the financial integrity of public schools.
A sincere and hearty welcome to these friends, now that the Friendship is officially recognized!
Have a thought about nomina4ng someone for a 2016 award? Want to nominate yourself to run for one of the two board posi4ons elected annually? Please visit the website for appropriate nomina4on documents or feel free to contact (re: awards) Cindy Mahr or Barry Nectow (MASBO Award Co-‐Chairs) or (re: elec4on) any board member or Dave Verdolino, Execu4ve Director.
FALL 2015
JAY SULLIVAN RECOGNIZED AS
“HONORARY PAST PRESIDENT”
At the MASBO Annual Ins4tute Joanne Blier presented Jay Sullivan with a plaque recognizing him as “Honorary Past President”. Joanne expanded on Jay’s performance as an exemplary school business official and his dedica4on and commitment to guiding and advancing MASBO as a professional organiza4on.
Joanne cited the fact that through his 4me, skills and knowledge, Jay has contributed significantly to the growth and improvement of MASBO and the School Business profession enhancing the effec4veness of the organiza4on through his partnership, immense knowledge of the rules and regula4ons and professional development contribu4ons. “We all listen intently to Jay as he provides us with DESE updates in his own unique style. Who here doesn't know what a 2 o'clock bus ques4on is? Who here has asked a 2 o’clock bus ques4on? Don't let anyone tell you there are NO STUPID ques4ons...” said Blier.
Jay has provided career-‐long dedicated support to the organiza4on becoming the MASBO Department of Elementary and Secondary Educa4on (DESE) Liaison 15 years ago, longer than many people have even been members of MASBO. Over the years he has been instrumental in assuring MASBO had a voice whenever the department was making changes that affect "our world", including the restructuring of the chart accounts and changes to the ever popular End of Year Report. He provided leadership in the development of the original MASBO student ac4vity guidelines way back in 1997 and the current revision to the guidelines that were reviewed at the September bi-‐
monthly.
From the save the drive ini4a4ve to the outstanding program and overwhelming a=endance at last year's pre-‐conference, to the “dis4nc4ve contribu4ons” he has made over the years to MASBO and school business officials alike were just a few of the reasons that Jay Sullivan was honored at the MASBO Annual Ins4tute.
Thank you Jay for all you do for MASBO!
FALL 2015
MASBO BOARD PROGRESSION, MASBO BY-‐LAW REVIEW,
AND NEWS FROM THE EDITOR
MASBO BOARD PROGRESSION
By David Verdolino, MASBO Execu4ve Director
I would like to recognize 2015’s outgoing board members, Anne Gula4 (Needham) and Charlie Kellner (Watertown). Anne decided that three years serving the organiza4on wasn’t sufficient and was elected to be Vice-‐President for the current year. What is there to say about Charlie except that his dedica4on, intellect and tremendous wit will be sorely missed by all who served with him on the board. Both Anne and Charlie received a plaque commemora4ng their board service. Like all members, though, neither of them volunteered considerable 4me and efforts for the plaque (or the money)…
they did it because they embody the MASBO mantra, for the be=erment of educa4on.
MASBO BY-‐LAW REVIEW
By Brian Allen, Legisla4ve Liaison
The MASBO Board of Directors have created a commi=ee to review, revise, and update the By-‐Laws of the Associa4on. The Commi=ee consists of Board Director Barry Nectow, MASBO Legisla4ve Liaison Brian Allen, former Board Director Charles Kellner, and Execu4ve Director David Verdolino. The work of the commi=ee has been to update the by-‐laws, reflec4ng current prac4ces of the organiza4on. Revisions to the MASBO By-‐Laws will require approval of members at the May Business Mee4ng at the Annual Ins4tute. NEWS FROM THE EDITOR
By Stephanie Fisk, Newsle=er Liaison
I am pleased to be able to return to the MASBO Board, and I hope that this newly released MASBO Ma=ers newsle=er will be a publica4on that our members will read, make sugges4ons, and also take the 4me to make wri=en contribu4ons throughout the year. MASBO Ma=ers will be published four 4mes a year (fall, winter, spring, and summer). I am also publishing the MASBO “News Flash”. These ar4cles are intended to be released on the website so that the informa4on can be read in a 4mely manner by our members for their benefit.
I am also hoping that there will be volunteers to form a “Newsle=er/Communica4ons” commi=ee. I am looking for ideas for the best methods of communica4on to our members, social media ideas, volunteers to take and submit MASBO pictures, and a variety of other ideas that are brought about as we discuss communica4ons. If you are interested in serving on this commi=ee, please contact me at [email protected].
I have big shoes to fill, as Peter DeRoeve re4red from Newsle=er Editor this summer. Peter’s 4me and commitment to the newsle=er was immeasurable, and we appreciate all of his years of service on this valuable tool for school business officials. MASSACHUSETTS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALS - WWW.MASBO.ORG
Does Your Energy Strategy Make the Grade?
Provided by Usource
You recognize the savings you can get by going out into the marketplace for your school’s electric and gas usage, and have a contract in place securing your energy needs. But how do you know if that contract, and any other energy ac4vi4es or ini4a4ves, are aligned and achieving your school’s overall goals?
There are a number of ways to evaluate your energy strategy and track performance. What determines a successful strategy can vary depending on your specific school’s goals and objec4ves. Below are some general ques4ons to ask yourself.
EvaluaWng your overall energy strategy performance: 1. Are your actual energy costs falling in line with your forecast and budget? Are you geEng what you expected?
2. Is your energy strategy in line with your sustainability goals?
3. Are you entering the market at the proper 4me? (this could occur a year or more before the end date of your current contract)
EvaluaWng your specific energy contract(s) performance:
1. What were the fixed market rates available at the 4me of contract for terms not selected? During the term of the contract, what direc4on did the fixed rates move?
2. If you selected a fixed price, how did that compare to the hourly ISO pricing for the applicable zone? Could a lower cost deal have been achieved through an index deal (provided your risk tolerance would allow for an hourly priced deal)?
3. How does this contract compare against the applicable u4lity default/standard rate?
It is recommended that you review your energy strategy and procurement contracts on a regular basis, not just at renewal 4me. A good energy advisor will have the capabili4es and resources to help you develop and monitor your energy buying strategy, provide on-‐going consulta4on on energy markets throughout your contract, and advise you on other services that can help you be=er manage your costs such as peak load management, energy efficiency, and renewables.
About the author Usource, a premier Northeast energy advisory firm, works with clients to develop and execute customized procurement strategies to reduce and manage energy costs. With its deep industry exper4se, Usource helps clients navigate the complexi4es of the deregulated electric and gas markets in 18 states. Usource has been serving clients for over 15 years. For more informa4on about Usource or the current state of the energy market, visit www.UsourceEnergy.com.
FALL 2015
Proposed Recommendations to Support Effective and
Ef5icient Allocation of Resources
At its September 28 mee4ng of the Founda4on Budget Review Commission, Dr. Karla Baehr made a presenta4on for the Commission to consider two of its legislated charges:
!Consider various models of efficient and effec4ve resource alloca4on . . . !Determine and recommend measures to promote the adop4on of ways in which resources can be most effec4vely u4lized.
Dr. Baehr recommends crea4on of a Stakeholder Data Advisory Commi=ee, to be overseen by DESE in collabora4on with the state’s Secretary of Educa4on’s office. MASBO (with past President Mary Delai serving as our representa4ve) would be included in that effort, if the recommenda4on is approved by the legislature.
Below is an excerpted summary of Dr. Baehr’s recommenda4on. Sec4on IV would have par4cular implica4ons for MASBO, as you will see by reading this. MASBO will update you with respect to the progress of this issue and welcome any ques4ons you may have.
Presenta4on Excerpt:
The Data Advisory Commi=ee will assist DESE to iden4fy, implement and assess cost-‐effec4ve ways to achieve three goals:
!Streamline financial repor4ng, eliminate duplicate repor4ng requirements, and improve data quality.
!Strengthen DESE capacity to analyze and report staffing, scheduling and financial data in ways that support strategic resource alloca4on decisions at the local level.
!Strengthen district capacity to use data to make strategic resource alloca4on decisions.
DESE ac4ons to achieve these three goals may include:
!Work with MTRS to obtain individual teacher salary informa4on.
!Develop strategies for securing more school-‐level financial data, including, where appropriate, developing ways to appor4on more district expenditures to schools automa4cally.
!Improve data accuracy by iden4fying more ways to “automate” the iden4fica4on of “outlier” data on EPIMS staffing and EOY financial reports from districts to prompt district review.
!Strengthen its training for district staff to improve accuracy and consistency of data repor4ng with special a=en4on to: a) the use of clear and consistent defini4ons, and b) expected use of “Reports Tab” to explain significant changes and/or “outlier” data.
!Eliminate duplica4on of effort at state and local levels by: a) aligning finance data with staffing (EPIMS) and enrollment (SIMS) data collec4ons and b) aligning grants management and repor4ng with EOY financial repor4ng.
!Iden4fy poten4al models, requirements, impacts, and es4mated cost for a new financial repor4ng system.
!Develop more powerful, ac4onable and publicly-‐available informa4on and reports that combine and benchmark staffing, scheduling, and district/school-‐level funding data to support strategic resource alloca4on decisions at the local level.
!Expand research focused on iden4fying promising prac4ces for efficient and effec4ve district and school resource alloca4on.
!Collaborate closely with MASBO and MASS to develop the on-‐line (and other) training and support that DESE, educa4on collabora4ves, and local district and school staff need to make effec4ve use of the current and new data and research.
ImplicaWons for future state funding:
Many of the above ac4ons will require a cost-‐benefit analysis of a range of op4ons. For some chosen op4ons, new state funding will need to be recommended and secured.
FALL 2015
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THE MASBO BOARD OF DIRECTORS?
NOW IS THE TIME TO CONSIDER IT!
Have you considered running for the MASBO Board of Directors? As one Board member said, “It has been the most professionally rewarding opportunity of my career.” MASBO is an organiza4on of highly skilled leaders, and in order to be maximally effec4ve at mee4ng the needs of its members, your talent and service is needed. It takes commitment and dedica4on to one’s profession, but it is guaranteed that you will get more out of it than you ever thought possible. The MASBO Board members have many responsibili4es, a few of which are outlined below.
The board is comprised of six directors, vice-‐president, president elect, president, immediate past president, and secretary/treasurer. Generally, board mee4ngs take place immediately following the law ins4tute and bi-‐monthly mee4ngs. The MASBO planning conference takes place the second weekend in June.
During the first 3 years on the board, directors (along with their commi=ee) have various delegated responsibili4es such as: •
•
•
•
Planning the fall ins4tute
Planning the trade show
Planning the law ins4tute
Awards presenta4ons
Officer responsibili4es:
Vice-‐president – Planning the bi-‐monthly mee4ngs
President-‐elect -‐ Planning the MASBO Annual Pre-‐Conference and Annual Ins4tute
President – Presiding over board mee4ngs and wri4ng quarterly ar4cles for MASBO Ma=ers.
Immediate Past President – Plans and organizes the MASBO planning conference in June.
Secretary/Treasurer – Gives financial updates at board mee4ngs and the annual business mee4ng.
Non-‐vo4ng board liaisons include:
•
•
•
•
DESE Liaison
Legisla4ve Liaison
Newsle=er Liaison
Technology Liaison
If you are interested in running for the board and have addi4onal ques4ons, please contact any of the current board members, liaisons, and/or David Verdolino, Execu4ve Director. It’s an experience you will not want to pass up!
MASBO MATTERS- PAGE 31
FALL 2015
MASBO Vendor Affiliates as of September, 2015
Bob McCloskey Insurance Agency
CAM Office Services
Chartwells School Dining Services
Cliion Larson Allen, LLP
Comtronics
Core Business Technologies
Custom Computer Specialists, Inc.
DSCI
Fuss & O’Neill Enviroscience, LLC
Gale Associates
Habeeb & Associates Architects
KenMark Office Systems, Inc.
Kurtz Bros.
Likarr Maintenance Systems
Mass. Educa4on & Government Associa4on (MEGA)
MidAmerica Administra4ve & Re4rement Solu4ons
Mosse & Mosse Associa4ons, LLC
NRT Bus, Inc.
PowerOp4ons
Powers & Sullivan, LLC
Riso, Inc.
Source4Teachers/MissionOne
Stanley H. Kulas, CPA
Toshiba
Tyler Technologies
Voya Financial
Whitsons School Nutri4on
Vendor affiliates are listed in each issue of MASBO Ma=ers upon payment of annual dues.
We are grateful for your loyalty and are proud to acknowledge your contribu4on toward MASBO’s support of its mission, “for the be-erment of educa2on”.
FALL 2015
Massachusetts Association of School Business Of5icials
Code of Conduct Policy
Members of the Massachusetts Association of School Business Ofbicials are committed to conducting themselves within the highest standards of professional and personal ethics.
School Business Ofbicials acknowledge that schools belong to the public they serve for the purpose of providing educational opportunities for all students. School Business Ofbicials assume responsibility for providing professional leadership in the schools and within the community. This responsibility requires School Business Ofbicials to maintain standards of exemplary professional conduct, recognizing that their conduct is observed by the community, students, and professional associates. School Business Ofbicials shall perform their duties with care, honesty, integrity, and without the intent of personal gain.
School Business Ofbicials shall:
1. Place the well being of the students at the forefront of decision making;
2. Adhere to all laws, regulations and policies;
3. Be fair and objective in interpreting and implementing policies, procedures, and practices;
4. Be accurate and timely when reporting data;
5. Avoid conblicts of interest or the appearance of conblicts of interest, in both professional and personal relationships;
6. Participate in professional development activities and professional organizations to remain current in the bield of school business administration;
7. Offer assistance and/or guidance to a colleague when such help is requested or the need is obvious;
8. Demonstrate high quality work by citing relevant sources whenever prudent.
.

2015 masbo matters

Transcription

Similar documents

MASBO NEWSFLASH 2015-003

ConEdison Solutions, Gexa, Pepco Energy 7:30am

Financial Tips for Newlyweds

Life-Insurance-Infographic Final

MINISTER TOLD JPO nterview

Event Information

Mr. Steven P. Kfoury, Executive Director The

Stonham Barns - White Gables

llroclamatfon

Dollar Wise