As the nation’s largest umbrella association of school leaders, ACSA provides a wealth of opportunities and benefits for school business officials.

For example, representing 15,000 educators statewide, ACSA is able to coordinate advocacy efforts among the instructional and business segments, resulting in a powerful message to state policymakers.

Merging the various perspectives of job-alikes represented by ACSA can provide positions on bills and budget proposals that are more thoughtful and comprehensive.

ACSA’s Business Services Council works tirelessly on state budget issues. In addition to providing joint letters of support or opposition to budget-related proposals being debated in the Capitol, the council also takes active part in the state ACSA Legislative Policy Committee to give a business perspective on bills that could affect education in California.

Business Services Council member Gina Potter, assistant superintendent and CBO with Lemon Grove ESD, noted the wealth of educational experience on tap for ACSA members who work on the financial side of education.

“In every facet of my administrative career ACSA has been invaluable in helping me build critical relationships with experts in education,” Potter said. “ACSA has enabled me to secure amazing educational mentors, role models, and has even opened a venue for me to have a voice in California’s policy making surrounding education.”

Business Services Council President John Von Flue, a fiscal intervention specialist with the statewide Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team, said council members recognize the supportive role of business services in education and understand the need to enhance communications with other educators, policymakers and community members in ensuring education is a priority investment.

“In times of both abundance and scarcity, school business officials seek to constantly improve efficiencies and allocate available resources to maximize educational services,” Von Flue said. “In the pursuit of this goal, it is essential to share best practices and ideas, communicate concerns, learn the perspectives and priorities of other educators, and contribute to the overall benefit of education. The Business Services Council serves this need by providing an avenue for communication, collaboration and a unified advocacy of public education.

 Von Flue noted the council also works to enhance the flow of communication from the local to the state levels.

“We are in constant communication with region and charter members and serve as a conduit to the state ACSA and legislative audiences,” Von Flue said. “Reflective of the districts we represent, we are able to relay a common and cohesive message for education’s business related issues.”

Council member Jacquie Canfield, fiscal services administrator with Fresno USD, said ACSA membership also offers wider benefits for school CBOs.

“ACSA allows a business official to understand all the aspects necessary to educate our students,” Canfield said. “When you have a better understanding of what others are doing and needing to be successful, you can work together better as a team to prioritize the resources necessary for the betterment of all students.”

ACSA also offers top notch learning opportunities for school CBOs. For example, Canfield cited the experience of attending the ACSA Leadership Summit, where she heard education leaders provide insight on subjects such as educational techniques, improving your leadership practices, budget strategies/presentation, technology solutions for the classroom, and negotiation strategies.

“I have been able to attend the Colloquium for Central Office Administrators at UCLA with a cross section of Fresno Unified central office leaders,” Canfield said. “We learned how to work together better as a team for the benefit of the school district. In addition, I have attended ACSA’s Negotiators Symposium, where I learned how the California Teachers Association looks at school district financial numbers. That has helped me be more proactive in our negotiation efforts.”

Potter noted her work in ACSA has opened up a world of opportunities.

“It has provided me an opportunity to meet CBOs from counties throughout the state and to hear how they are addressing the state’s budget crisis in each of their respective geographic regions,” Potter said. “Working with such a dynamic group of CBOs on ACSA’s Business Services Council has allowed me to grow in so many ways as a CBO.”

Canfield said in addition to the wonderful learning opportunities afforded to school CBOs, ACSA membership offers even more.

“In addition to all the resources ACSA provides to inform us on budget matters and pending legislation, as well as trainings to be better educational leaders, the opportunities you get to meet others and learn from them is extremely valuable,” Canfield said. “ACSA helps remind us of who our customer is, so that we continue to strive to be better for our students every day.”

“ACSA will connect you professionally to both the instructional and financial sides of the house in education,” Potter concluded. “Being an ACSA member brings you an opportunity to make a positive difference not only for your own district but for the 6 million students in California. As an ACSA member you will have many opportunities to be an advocate for California’s educational system.”

Career development is also a key element in the significance of ACSA to school CBOs. ACSA Vice President for Legislative Action Marc Ecker moved up the career ladder from the business side. Now superintendent of Fountain Valley SD, Ecker noted that CBOs with an interest in becoming a superintendent would without question want to be a part of ACSA.

“The career ladder is built around the connection a classified fiscally trained educator has with the certificated instructional side of the house,” Ecker said. “CBOs, whether classified or certificated – and especially certificated – need to work closely with the instructional division. CBOs need to have empathy for what it takes to administer schools and to support the delivery of instruction.

“Providing resources in support of our mission – that of delivering instruction to students – is a part of all of our jobs, whether we are in the classroom or planning strategy in the business office.”

Ecker, who chaired the Business Services Council in 1999-01, graduated from UCLA and became a teacher, then a principal. With the assistance of his economics major, he got the opportunity to become the director of his district’s assets management program and ultimately apply for the CBO position.

“Those CBOs who would like to eventually move along these type of career steps, should be part of our inclusive organization,” Ecker said. “A good argument can be made for the administrative umbrella organization we are and how it might benefit one’s career.”

Now is an opportune time to join ACSA, as the association is offering a $2-a-day dues incentive to school business officials. Click here for details.