School Business Insider: Innovating School Business – Insights from ASBO International’s Innovation Hour

Hosted by John Brucato | Release Date: October 1, 2024

Introduction

In the October 1, 2024 episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato delves into the future of innovation within school business and education. Recorded live at the 2024 ASBO International Annual Conference and Expo Innovation Hour in Nashville, the episode features two esteemed guests: Laura Anderson, Associate Director at Edgenomics Lab, and Dr. Mario Chasson, Director of Research Innovations and Change Management at District Scolari Francophone. Together, they explore transformative strategies for school business officials facing evolving challenges, emphasizing the need to abandon traditional budgeting methods, integrate artificial intelligence (AI), and adopt data-driven decision-making processes.

Rethinking Traditional Budgeting

Laura Anderson begins by addressing the limitations of conventional budgeting practices in educational institutions. She highlights the repetitive "budget dance" where budgets are presented, tweaked, and eventually approved without substantial innovation.

“We’re realizing that through the process, both in these observations, but also in the training work that we do with districts, is that there’s this very traditional budget dance...” (03:54)

Anderson emphasizes the importance of breaking away from this cycle by incorporating data-driven tools and strategies:

• Integrating Data: Introducing comprehensive data displays that correlate spending with student outcomes to foster more informed discussions during budget meetings.

• Innovative Tools: Utilizing tools that guide conversations around data to enhance decision-making processes.

• Iterative Budgeting: Allowing flexibility to revisit and adjust budgets post-approval based on ongoing assessments and outcomes.

She notes that both state educational agencies and Local Education Agencies (LEAs) are beginning to take initiative in this transformation, promoting practices that leverage existing funds more effectively to benefit students.

“...can bring tools that can guide those conversations around data. Are there opportunities once the budget is established and signed to revisit it?” (05:10)

Embracing Artificial Intelligence

The conversation shifts to the pivotal role of AI in modernizing school business operations. Anderson cautions against unbridled AI adoption without considering its implications on the human-driven nature of education.

“We are a very human driven industry. And so I think that if those are the sorts of things that a district is looking to, they’re going to need to think about that and how.” (11:34)

Dr. Chasson expands on the complexities of integrating AI, citing past experiences where technological advancements met resistance due to fear and uncertainty.

“AI is creating for us. So creating a lot of dispellation there, you know, on how that we want to craft this new roadmap.” (12:29)

He categorizes AI applications into three types:

1. Assistive AI: Tools that aid in performing tasks.
2. Interactive AI: Systems that engage and interact with users.
3. Autonomous AI: Technologies that operate independently, such as autonomous learning and teaching systems.

Chasson underscores the challenge of shifting from the information age to the intelligence age, where AI not only aids but also drives decision-making processes.

Data-Driven Decision Making

A cornerstone of the episode is the emphasis on leveraging data to inform budgets and resource allocations. Anderson discusses the Eduflix project, a research initiative that analyzes over 400 board meeting videos to understand budgeting behaviors and outcomes.

“We now have that data. It’s public and it’s available. And so what we did during this pilot is figured out, how do you marry that data so that you can make productive decisions and have these conversations that lead toward that?” (16:15)

Key strategies highlighted include:

• Resource Equity Analysis: Evaluating how resources are distributed across schools to ensure equity and effectiveness.

• Outcome Correlation: Linking financial expenditures to measurable student outcomes to determine the efficacy of budget allocations.

• Risk Assessment: Identifying potential risks associated with budget decisions, such as the impact of absenteeism on tutoring programs.

Anderson also mentions the development of online tools with the Alabama State Department of Education, facilitating transparent and interactive budget planning where stakeholders can assess costs, benefits, and risks collaboratively.

Collaboration Between School Business Officials and Educational Leaders

Dr. Chasson emphasizes the indispensable role of school business officials in fostering collaboration with educational leaders to drive systemic innovation.

“The school business official are the foundation of that system transformation.” (10:32)

He outlines a comprehensive data architecture encompassing four elements to support collaboration:

1. Pedagogical Data: Information that transforms passive learning into active, personalized education.
2. Leadership Data: Insights into leadership styles and their evolution to support dynamic collaboration.
3. Cultural Data: Metrics that assess and promote a connected, eco-centric school culture over ego-centric models.
4. Community Integration Data: Data linking school programs to local economic needs and career opportunities.

Chasson argues that integrating these data types with AI can enhance the ability to make informed, collaborative decisions that align with both educational and business objectives.

Additionally, Anderson highlights the critical role of effective communication in building trust and facilitating productive dialogues among school leaders, parents, and board members.

“What words work to have conversations with different community members, whether it’s the school leaders or parents.” (22:49)

Advice for Innovating School Business Officials

As the episode concludes, both guests offer valuable advice for school business officials aiming to spearhead innovation:

• Laura Anderson urges officials to embrace change without fear, advocating for agile thinking focused on student outcomes.

  “Don't be afraid. I think that oftentimes we kind of soft pedal bad news or we hold back.” (23:37)

• Dr. Mario Chasson stresses the importance of fostering trust and collaboration between business and academic sectors, highlighting the need for co-innovation and shared reflection.

  “We are the yin and the yangs. We’re having a lot of fun together for this and kudos to them that they opened their mind to establish one relationship trust and co design together and co implement together.” (24:02)

Chasson also hints at upcoming discussions on the pivotal role of Human Resources in innovative districts, emphasizing the continuous evolution of leadership and organizational culture.

Conclusion

The episode of School Business Insider encapsulates a forward-thinking dialogue on revolutionizing school business practices through innovation, data utilization, and strategic collaboration. Laura Anderson and Dr. Mario Chasson provide actionable insights and underscore the critical synergy between business officials and educational leaders in shaping the future of education. As schools navigate the complexities of modern challenges, embracing these innovative approaches will be essential in fostering environments that prioritize student success and systemic efficiency.

For more in-depth discussions and expert strategies, tune in to future episodes of School Business Insider.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Laura Anderson on the "budget dance":

  “There’s this very traditional budget dance...” (03:54)

• Laura Anderson on revisiting budgets:

  “Are there opportunities once the budget is established and signed to revisit it?” (05:10)

• Dr. Mario Chasson on AI redefining education:

  “The school is not called a school anymore. It’s called an innovative learning community center mindset.” (07:37)

• Laura Anderson on data displays:

  “We now have that data. It’s public and it’s available.” (16:15)

• Dr. Mario Chasson on collaboration:

  “The school business official are the foundation of that system transformation.” (10:32)

• Laura Anderson on communication:

  “What words work to have conversations with different community members…” (22:49)

• Final advice from Laura Anderson:

  “Don't be afraid. I think that oftentimes we kind of soft pedal bad news or we hold back.” (23:37)

This summary captures the essence of the "Innovating School Business" episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those who seek to understand the critical advancements and collaborative efforts shaping the future of school business management.