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School Business Insider

Author: John Brucato

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ASBO International's official podcast. Each week we sit down down with school business professionals and industry experts from around the world to share their stories and explore the topics that matter most to you.

118 Episodes
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AI may not replace school business officials — but it may reshape who stands out. In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato is joined by Aziz Agayev to discuss why AI is becoming more than a productivity tool for school business leaders. They explore how AI fluency can increase marketability, improve day-to-day effectiveness, and help professionals remain competitive in a changing job market. The conversation also highlights practical uses of Claude for Excel, PowerPoint, ...
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 insi...
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 conversat...
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 falli...
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...
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 stren...
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...
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 ...
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...
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 bu...
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 qu...
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 c...
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 pra...
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 ha...
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 capa...
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 ...
Wrapped! 2025

Wrapped! 2025

2025-12-3019:35

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 a...
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, coll...
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...
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 ...
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