School Business Insider

• The School Food Procurement Puzzle: Challenges, Solutions & Innovation

  Food procurement is one of the biggest challenges facing school business officials today. Between regulatory red tape, supply chain disruptions, and vendor relationships, school districts must navigate a complex system to ensure students receive nutritious meals.In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato is joined by Sacha Pouliot, SFO/RSBA, and Darin Crawford, MBA, RTSBA, to break down their work with the Food Advisory Procurement Workgroup. Together, they explore: Common procurement hurdles and inefficiencies Why schools can be “less-than-ideal” customers for vendors The impact of regulatory complexity on food sourcing The need for plain language and better vendor-school collaboration How electronic bidding & standardization can improve procurementIf your district is looking to streamline the RFP process, improve vendor relationships, and navigate food procurement more effectively, this episode is a must-listen!Contact School Business Insider: Check us out on social media: LinkedIn Twitter (X) Website: https://asbointl.org/SBI Email: [email protected] Make sure to like, subscribe and share for more great insider episodes!Disclaimer:The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the Association of School Business Officials International. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The "ASBO International" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service. The presence of any advertising does not endorse, or imply endorsement of, any products or services by ASBO International.ASBO International is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, nonpartisan organization and does not participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for elective public office. The sharing of news or information concerning public policy issues or political campaigns and candidates are not, and should not be construed as, endorsements by ASBO Internatio...

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• Healthy School Meals for All: What’s at Stake in Washington

  School nutrition programs are under threat — and school business officials need to be prepared. In this episode of School Business Insider, we speak with Crystal FitzSimons, interim President of the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), about the latest policy proposals in Washington that could impact access to school meals.Crystal breaks down potential changes to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and income verification requirements, and explains how these would affect school budgets and students’ access to healthy food. She also shares resources that school leaders can use to improve meal access and effectively advocate for nutrition programs in their districts.Whether you're new to advocacy or deeply involved in child nutrition programs, this conversation will give you the insights and tools you need to protect the meals your students depend on.Contact School Business Insider: Check us out on social media: LinkedIn Twitter (X) Website: https://asbointl.org/SBI Email: [email protected] Make sure to like, subscribe and share for more great insider episodes!Disclaimer:The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the Association of School Business Officials International. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The "ASBO International" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service. The presence of any advertising does not endorse, or imply endorsement of, any products or services by ASBO International.ASBO International is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, nonpartisan organization and does not participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for elective public office. The sharing of news or information concerning public policy issues or political campaigns and candidates are not, and should not be construed as, endorsements by ASBO Internatio...

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• Beyond the Buzzwords: Real AI Solutions for School Business Officials

  Artificial intelligence is here, and it’s changing the way school business officials operate—if they know how to use it effectively. In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato sits down with Aziz Aghayev, CEO of Flowlyst, to discuss how AI is transforming school finance operations, from budget forecasting to policy creation and meeting summaries.Aziz shares: The Five Phases of AI Adoption SBOs go through How AI can boost productivity and reduce manual workload Practical use cases for ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and more The biggest misconceptions and fears about AI in education Time-saving hacks that can revolutionize your workflowAI Tools Mentioned in This Episode: 🔹 ChatGPT – AI-powered assistant for text-based tasks (OpenAI) 🔹 Gemini – Google's AI for education and workflow automation (Google Gemini) 🔹 Perplexity AI – AI-powered research tool with sources (Perplexity AI) 🔹 Notebook LM – AI-powered document summarization and learning (Google Notebook LM) 🔹 Zapier – Workflow automation for integrating apps (Zapier) 🔹 Make.com – AI-driven task automation (Make.com) 🔹 Suno AI – AI-generated music for creative and professional use (Suno AI) 🔹 Fireflies.ai – AI meeting transcription and note-taking (Fireflies.ai) 🔹 Fathom – AI-powered meeting summarization (Fathom) 🔹 Google Sheets AI – AI-powered spreadsheet automation (Google Workspace) 🔹 Operator (ChatGPT) – AI automation for browser tasks (Coming soon to OpenAI Pro users)If you’re curious about AI but unsure where to start, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help SBOs move from frustration to efficiency. Tune in now!Contact School Business Insider: Check us out on social media: LinkedIn Twitter (X) Website: https://asbointl.org/SBI Email: [email protected] Make sure to like, subscribe and share for more great insider episodes!Disclaimer:The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the Association of School Business Officials International. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The "ASBO International" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service. The presence of any advertising does not endorse, or imply endorsement of, any products or services by ASBO International.ASBO International is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, nonpartisan organization and does not participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for elective public office. The sharing of news or information concerning public policy issues or political campaigns and candidates are not, and should not be construed as, endorsements by ASBO Internatio...

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• Operational Excellence in Schools: A Year of Progress & What’s Next

  Operational excellence has transformed industries like manufacturing and healthcare, but what about education? Can schools apply these same principles to streamline operations, maximize resources, and improve student outcomes?In this follow-up conversation, I reconnect with Stephen Morales, Chief Executive of the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL) in the UK, to revisit our discussion on Operational Excellence (OPEX) in schools and explore how the movement has evolved over the past year.We dive into the progress that’s been made since our last conversation, how schools and districts are responding to OPEX, and the biggest challenges in implementing these strategies. Stephen also shares insights into how early adopters are embedding OPEX into their strategic plans, what measurable impacts are emerging, and what’s next for expanding this approach internationally.If you’re looking for ways to improve efficiency, eliminate wasted effort, and foster a more strategic, data-driven approach to school business operations, this episode is a must-listen.Contact School Business Insider: Check us out on social media: LinkedIn Twitter (X) Website: https://asbointl.org/SBI Email: [email protected] Make sure to like, subscribe and share for more great insider episodes!Disclaimer:The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the Association of School Business Officials International. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The "ASBO International" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service. The presence of any advertising does not endorse, or imply endorsement of, any products or services by ASBO International.ASBO International is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, nonpartisan organization and does not participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for elective public office. The sharing of news or information concerning public policy issues or political campaigns and candidates are not, and should not be construed as, endorsements by ASBO Internatio...

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• Strengthening School Leadership, Part 2: Budgeting & Resource Management

  Financial uncertainty is a constant challenge for school business officials, but how districts respond to it can determine long-term success. Instead of simply reacting to budget shortfalls, SBOs must take a strategic approach to resource allocation and financial planning. In this episode, Jonathan Travers, President & Managing Partner of Consulting at Education Resource Strategies (ERS), shares insights on managing financial uncertainty, using return on investment to guide budgeting decisions, and building long-term sustainability rather than making short-term cuts. He also discusses common mistakes districts make when facing budget constraints and how ERS provides tools and frameworks to help SBOs optimize financial strategies. Whether you’re preparing for future funding shifts or trying to stabilize your district’s finances, this episode offers practical insights that will help you make more informed, data-driven decisions.Resources:ERS SSROI Tool KitBudget Hold'emContact School Business Insider: Check us out on social media: LinkedIn Twitter (X) Website: https://asbointl.org/SBI Email: [email protected] Make sure to like, subscribe and share for more great insider episodes!Disclaimer:The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the Association of School Business Officials International. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The "ASBO International" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service. The presence of any advertising does not endorse, or imply endorsement of, any products or services by ASBO International.ASBO International is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, nonpartisan organization and does not participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for elective public office. The sharing of news or information concerning public policy issues or political campaigns and candidates are not, and should not be construed as, endorsements by ASBO Internatio...

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