MSBO recently expanded its popular workshop Group Solutions to include other areas of school business management. As we know, school business officials don’t just work on accounting and budgets – they hold varied and unique roles within their school districts.
These new Group Solutions workshops, held in February, brought together participants from across the state to tackle shared challenges in two key areas: Human Resources and Facilities. Stay tuned because Groups Solutions for Pupil Accounting and Technology is on the schedule for 2024-25.
The inaugural Human Resources session drew participants from school districts around the state eager to share best practices and brainstorm solutions. With a focus on district-specific issues, the session provided a platform for open discussion and knowledge exchange.
Examples of the many topics addressed include hiring, recruiting, attendance, and family medical leave act (FMLA). Facilitator Chelsea Giles from Gratiot-Isabella RESD helped lead discussions on many of these topics with a practitioner point of view. Associate Executive Director Jason Helsen complimented the participants: “There was an incredible energy in the room. I was so impressed by the great ideas shared throughout the day.”
The following day, the Facilities & Operations Group Solutions workshop fostered a collaborative environment where school business officials tackled familiar challenges faced by their districts in maintaining and operating their facilities.
Example of topics discussed include upcoming rules on filtering all drinking water fixtures; staff recruitment, retention, and training; safety and security; preventive maintenance; and dealing with board and administrative communication protocols.
“Members enjoyed the opportunity to really dig deep with their peers on important issues facing school facilities operations across the state,” said Scott Little, MSBO Associate Executive Director.
MSBO board member Tim Peraino from Kent ISD served as a co-facilitator for the facilities session, adding, “Operations leaders are natural problem solvers and Group Solutions was a great venue for that to happen.”
Director of Certification Debbie Kopkau was instrumental in making these initial sessions happen, using the popular Un-conference format that MSBO Group Solutions has successfully employed in the certification program in recent years.
The success of these initial Group Solutions workshops paves the way for future events focused on a variety of topics relevant to school business officials. MSBO looks forward to continuing to provide its members with opportunities to connect, collaborate, and find innovative solutions to the challenges faced by Michigan’s public schools.
Other Articles in this Newsletter
- Congratulations MSBO Awards and Scholarship Recipients
- Know Your Why – Tim Peraino
- Meet the Candidates: MSBO 2024 Board of Directors
- MSBO Annual Conference & Exhibit Show Update
- MSBO Update – Robert Dwan
- Sometimes You Just Need to Be Wild – Mary Beth Rogers
- SWMSBO: Connecting Members
- Welcome New Members