Succession planning isn’t just about filling roles — it’s about protecting your district. In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato is joined by Bob Bayles and Will Lukang to discuss how succession planning must evolve from a reactive task into a strategic leadership priority. They explore leadership risk, mentorship, and the importance of developing future leaders through intentional coaching — especially during high-impact moments. This conversation offers practical insight...
Apr 14, 2026•43 min
What does it take to bring one of New York’s premier school business conferences to life? In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato is joined by Amanda Wing and Rebecca Sheehan from ASBO New York to provide a behind-the-scenes look at the Education Summit & Expo. They discuss the planning process, how sessions and speakers are selected, and what attendees can expect from this year’s event. From logistics to programming to the overall attendee experience, this conversation...
Apr 07, 2026•46 min
Does money really matter in education? The data says yes — but how it’s distributed matters even more. In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato sits down with Dr. Bruce Baker, a leading expert in education finance, to break down the findings from his latest report, The Adequacy and Fairness of State School Finance Systems. They explore national trends in school funding, the persistent inequities across districts and student populations, and why many states are still falling ...
Mar 31, 2026•46 min
Great leadership doesn’t happen by accident — it’s designed. In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato sits down with John Coyle, leadership expert, design thinking practitioner, and Olympic silver medalist, to explore how leaders can become more intentional in their work. Drawing from his experience in elite athletics and organizational leadership, John shares insights on storytelling, human-centered design, and how leaders can approach challenges with greater clarity and pu...
Mar 24, 2026•43 min
Strong school districts depend on strong partnerships with their communities — and that includes local government. In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato speaks with Adam Tarquini, Chief of Finance & Operations for West Springfield Public Schools in Massachusetts, about the importance of building productive relationships between school districts and their municipalities. They explore how transparency, education, and collaboration with city and town leaders can strength...
Mar 17, 2026•42 min
What happens when a district’s primary revenue source is under debate? In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato speaks with Dr. Erik Roush, Executive Director of Financial Affairs for Columbus City Schools, about the evolving fiscal and political landscape in Ohio. They discuss proposed property tax reforms — including a constitutional amendment effort to repeal property taxes — the continued challenge of fully funding the state’s school funding formula, and the financial im...
Mar 10, 2026•45 min
Leadership in our profession doesn’t just happen locally — it also happens at the governance level. In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato speaks with Scott Gooding and Tera Van Dyke, candidates for the ASBO International Board, about their professional journeys and why they’re stepping forward to serve. They discuss the role of the ASBO International Board, the importance of governance, and their vision for supporting members and advancing the profession. This episode off...
Mar 03, 2026•46 min
In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato sits down with Christopher Smith, CFO of Katy Independent School District and Chair of ASBO International’s Federal Advocacy Advisory Committee. They explore how federal advocacy priorities are developed, the key issues facing school districts nationally, and how those policies translate into real fiscal and operational challenges in Texas. This conversation offers insight into the intersection of leadership, advocacy, and district-le...
Feb 24, 2026•40 min
Skilled trades are no longer just an operational concern — they’re a strategic budget issue. In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato is joined by Chuck Luchen, retired National Strategic Account Director at Staples Business, to discuss why skilled trades must be part of school districts’ financial planning for 2026–2027. Based on Chuck’s School Business Now article, the conversation explores workforce shortages, rising costs, deferred maintenance risks, and how school busin...
Feb 17, 2026•42 min
In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato is joined by Dr. Ron Clamser of Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES to reflect on ASBO New York’s Advocacy Day and examine what makes advocacy effective for school business officials. They discuss the advocacy process, legislator reactions to ASBO New York’s priority list, and the realities behind issues like Foundation Aid, UPK mandates, zero-emission bus requirements, and local efficiencies. The conversation also tackles the big quest...
Feb 10, 2026•45 min
AI adoption in schools is no longer theoretical — it’s happening, unevenly and imperfectly, across the public sector. In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato is joined by Aziz Agayev and Jamal Amanoa of flowlyst to discuss what AI adoption really looks like in education and public-sector organizations today. They explore common challenges and concerns, practical use cases that are saving time and reducing rework, and lessons learned from districts already using AI. The conv...
Feb 03, 2026•1 hr 3 min
Student privacy is no longer a background issue — it’s a front-line leadership challenge. In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato is joined by Amelia Vance, President of the Public Interest Privacy Center, to unpack the rapidly changing student privacy landscape. They explore the patchwork of federal and state privacy laws, recent enforcement actions, growing scrutiny of AI and edtech, and rising parental concerns about data collection and consent. Amelia also shares practi...
Jan 27, 2026•47 min
Energy projects in schools can do more than reduce costs — they can create powerful learning opportunities. In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato talks with Dawn Johnson, Director of Customer Engagement at OPTERRA Energy Services, about how school districts can leverage energy initiatives to support sustainability, STE(A)M education, and community engagement. They explore how clean energy projects become living laboratories for students, how priorities around energy have ...
Jan 20, 2026•39 min
The role of the school CFO is changing — and compliance alone is no longer enough. In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato is joined by Ahnaf Tahmid, CFO of South Bend Community School Corporation, to explore how school finance leaders can move beyond compliance to become true strategic partners. Drawing from his School Business Now article, “The Strategic CFO: Moving Beyond Compliance to Build Capacity,” Ahnaf shares insights on financial leadership, organizational capacit...
Jan 13, 2026•45 min
What if school business operations were designed for sustainability — not constant reaction? In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato is joined by Stephen Morales of the Institute for School Business Leadership and leaders from ASBO New York to discuss the launch of the Operational Excellence (OpEx) Pilot Program in New York State. They explore what OpEx is, how data from ASBO New York’s State of the Profession Survey shaped the initiative, and how districts can use OpEx pri...
Jan 06, 2026•51 min
In this solo, year-in-review episode, host John Brucato reflects on the conversations, themes, and lessons that defined the podcast in 2025 — a year that also saw the release of its 100th episode. John shares highlights from across the year, explores the biggest themes shaping school business leadership, and offers a candid look at what he’s hearing from colleagues in the field. He also dives into the numbers behind the show, including 16,798 downloads in 2025, listeners across the U.S. and arou...
Dec 30, 2025•20 min
Every school business official remembers their first few years — the learning curve, the pressure, and the moments that shape who they become as leaders. In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato is joined by John Fink of Cornwall Central School District and Chris Carballo of Highland Falls–Fort Montgomery CSD — two relatively new SBOs who came to the role from very different professional paths. They reflect on mentorship, work–family balance, business office culture, collegi...
Dec 23, 2025•47 min
Healthcare costs continue to rise, and employee expectations are evolving just as quickly. In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato sits down with Eric Gilbert and Adam Hensen from Daybright Financial to break down the state of school employee healthcare in 2025. They discuss the trends driving costs, how employee expectations have changed, and what school business officials can do to balance fiscal responsibility with providing meaningful, competitive benefits. With Eric’s ...
Dec 16, 2025•49 min
In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato sits down with John Vetter, Regional Sales Director at Centegix, to explore how school districts are prioritizing safety, how budgets reflect those decisions, and how wearable technology is shifting the conversation from reaction to readiness. They discuss district perspectives on safety funding, the impact of panic-button wearables, implementation challenges, and what school business officials should focus on now and in the years ahe...
Dec 09, 2025•41 min
The most valuable resource in school business isn’t a tool or a budget — it’s the people you can lean on. In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato is joined by Cindy Reilmann, CFO of the Special School District of St. Louis County, to discuss their School Business Now article, “Lean On Me: Building Your Professional Network.” Together, they explore the role of professional connections in building confidence, sharing solutions, and finding community in a complex and demanding...
Dec 02, 2025•46 min
In this special live-recorded episode from SBMW, host John Brucato and co-presenter Ron Clamser lead a candid, interactive session on navigating change in school business operations. Drawing on real stories from districts across New York State, they explore the challenges of staffing turnover, generational differences, technology transitions, AI integration, compliance pressures, and vendor changes. They also share leadership strategies, communication approaches, and practical frameworks to help...
Nov 25, 2025•1 hr 7 min
Strong governance builds strong organizations — and ASBO International is leading the way. In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato talks with members of the ASBO International Governance Task Force — Jim Rowan, Lynn Knight, Sharon Bruce, and Jordan Ely — about how the group is modernizing ASBO’s leadership structure to make it more transparent, inclusive, and effective. They discuss why the task force was created, how it conducted its review, and what its key recommendation...
Nov 18, 2025•54 min
In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato reconnects with Michael Linehan (Equitable), Sarah Breiner (U.S. OMNI & TSACG), and Phil Hahn (Security Benefit) to discuss what school business officials need to know now that the mandatory provisions of Secure 2.0 are taking effect. They break down the most important updates, compliance deadlines, and what districts can do today to prepare for smooth implementation. From Roth distributions to student loan matching and hardship c...
Nov 11, 2025•49 min
One year after his first conversation on AI and innovation, ASBO New York’s Executive Director, Brian Cechnicki, returns to School Business Insider to share how his work has evolved — and what’s next. Host John Brucato reconnects with Brian to explore how ASBO New York is using AI, automation, and data visualization to create practical tools that empower members, enhance transparency, and support state-level advocacy. They discuss lessons learned, new initiatives, and how technology is helping a...
Nov 04, 2025•45 min
Leadership, family, and finding balance — what does it really look like in practice? In this solo episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato steps away from the interviews to share personal reflections on managing family life, leadership, and self in the midst of constant motion. John recently welcomed his second child and offers an honest look at what it means to balance professional ambition with parenting, partnership, and personal identity. It’s a candid, heartfelt reflection on g...
Oct 28, 2025•28 min
Career journeys are never linear — they’re built on experiences, lessons, and sometimes big leaps of faith. In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato talks with Rubie Harris, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Management Services at Huntington Union Free School District in New York. With more than a decade of experience in school business, Rubie shares her professional journey, the challenges and opportunities of relocating across the state to a new district, and the le...
Oct 21, 2025•41 min
Schools are running out of land—but that doesn’t mean growth has to stop. Vertical design offers a compelling alternative for districts dealing with tight sites, rising costs, and changing educational requirements. In this episode of School Business Insider, we sit down with Kurt Peeters and Matt McGregor of Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction, Inc., authors of “The Vertical Advantage.” They take us through the practical, operational, and fiscal benefits of multi‑story school buildings—u...
Oct 14, 2025•42 min
It’s almost time for ASBO International’s Annual Conference & Expo (AC&E 2025), happening October 21–23 in Fort Worth, Texas, with pre-conference workshops on October 20. In this episode, School Business Insider host John Brucato is joined by Cristin Watson, Lori Grooms, and Angie Smith from ASBO International to preview the event. Together, they highlight the theme “Navigate: Leading the Journey to Growth,” spotlight educational sessions and workshops, discuss networking and expo hall h...
Oct 07, 2025•45 min
School buildings are the backbone of learning environments—but too often, districts lack the funding clarity, planning tools, or support they need to modernize facilities. That’s where the National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI) comes in. In this episode of School Business Insider , host John Brucato speaks with Dr. Jeff Vincent, Director of NCSI, and Jo Ann Armstrong, CSBO, Chief Financial & Operations Officer at Belvidere CUSD 100 and NCSI advisory committee member. They explore ho...
Sep 30, 2025•41 min
Enrollment is shrinking—and the pressure is on. But that doesn’t mean school districts need to cut blindly. It means they need to plan smart. In this episode, Dr. Marguerite Roza of Georgetown University’s Edunomics Lab joins School Business Insider to discuss what she calls “The Big Shrink”—a long-term, nationwide enrollment decline—and how school systems can respond with strategy rather than panic. She shares a roadmap for rethinking staffing models, evaluating programs for value, and leading ...
Sep 23, 2025•44 min
