At the end of this school year (FY2019), all states and local school districts will be required to report per-pupil expenditure data at the school level as mandated by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The new ESSA financial requirements...
From time to time, curious clients and prospects ask us about our corporate name…Forecast5™. They essentially want to know how we came up with the name and “what does it mean”? The answer is pretty simple. It is a word play on our core mission...
One common thread that every good story has imbedded into it is context. Without context, it doesn’t make sense as to why Hansel and Gretel are lost in the woods, why Peter Pan never ages, or what Harry Potter’s deal is. Context provides depth...
School spirit is a powerful force. Everyone loves to cheer for the successes of their sports teams, fine arts programs, test scores and academic rankings.
According to the “National Center for Education Statistics” February 2017 publication, over 90% of school district revenues come from local or state sources that are controlled by statutory funding formulas. With such a significant portion of...
Often in my work with school districts, I’m asked about how to create a habit of incorporating data analytics into a regular routine. I hear a variety of challenges when discussing this idea with districts, but the one that comes up most often is...
Much has been written about the impact hiring has on an organization’s success - how to find, attract and hire the right people, and how to reduce turnover. Many successful organizations often cite their ability to hire and retain the right...
From those glorious first times when we were old enough to cross the street, to the hair-raising times when we were old enough for someone to trust us behind the wheel of a car, one thing we all repeatedly heard at varying levels of intensity was
School district negotiations are often the most stressful, labor-intensive, and volatile times of the year for administrators. There can be conflicting views related to salary increases being requested versus revenue constraint realities....
After more than thirty-five years serving in finance or budget related positions in three Iowa cities, I can attest that demands of the job are ever-increasing. The number and complexity of challenges facing the modern city or county finance...
After forty years serving Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) as Finance Director, I can tell you firsthand the demands from the finance office at institutions around the country are greater now than they have ever been. The number and...
Communities, school boards and district administrators can struggle with how to effectively analyze enrollment data to make current and forward-looking decisions. These decisions are important because of the direct impact on financial budgeting...
