One of the standout sessions at Amplify LIVE 2026 just a couple months ago brought together an extraordinary group of leaders to answer an important question:
What does a strong school business office look like today, and what will it take to thrive in the years ahead?
We were honored to welcome four leaders whose collective experience spans nearly every corner of Indiana school finance:
Dr. Scott Bowling, Executive Director of IASBO, who has served Indiana schools as a teacher, principal, CFO, and superintendent.
Beth Kelley, Deputy State Examiner at the Indiana State Board of Accounts, a CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner who has spent her career helping Indiana schools navigate accountability, compliance, and sound financial practices.
Karen Scalf, Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance at Richmond Community Schools and current IASBO President, bringing the perspective of someone leading through today's realities every day.
Rob James, Director of Business Services at Lake Central School Corporation and past IASBO President, who began his career auditing Indiana schools before transitioning into district leadership.
It's rare to have this much Indiana experience in one conversation -- district leadership, state oversight, and professional association leadership all represented at the same table. The discussion lived up to the moment.
The panel didn't sugarcoat the challenges ahead.
Rob walked through the financial headwinds many districts are already experiencing. Property tax changes, increasing referendum activity, enrollment shifts, and demographic trends are creating difficult realities for Indiana schools.
Scott noted that Indiana could see 40 to 50 referendum questions this year alone -- far exceeding historical norms.
And because personnel costs make up most of district spending, many of the toughest decisions eventually land on the business office's desk.
At the same time, those offices are often operating with lean teams and limited capacity.
Karen captured it perfectly: "We're the quiet hum. If we're not humming, something is drastically broken."
It's hard to imagine a better description of the role school business offices play every day.
From Beth Kelley's perspective at the State Board of Accounts, the strongest business offices share three characteristics.
Clarity
Clear processes. Clear roles. Clear expectations.
People understand not only what they're responsible for, but how their work contributes to the district's larger mission.
Consistency
Strong offices don't reinvent the wheel every time a challenge arises.
Even during busy seasons or staffing shortages, the fundamentals happen the same way every time.
Shared Responsibility
The best teams don't operate in silos.
It's not "that's payroll's problem" or "that's HR's issue."
It's our office, our data, and our reputation.
Beth also offered a practical reminder that resonated with many in the room: document your processes, and invite others to look for gaps.
Strong internal controls aren't bureaucracy. They're protection.
One theme surfaced repeatedly throughout the discussion: Strong business offices communicate well.
Karen spoke candidly about the importance of alignment between HR and finance. "If your HR director and business director aren't talking," she noted, "you are in dysfunction."
Scott challenged attendees to resist siloed thinking and remember that everyone is ultimately working toward the same mission.
The takeaway was simple. Communication improves accuracy, it strengthens continuity, and it helps organizations navigate change more effectively.
What made this panel so impactful wasn't just the expertise represented on stage. It was the shared understanding that business offices have become increasingly strategic to the success of Indiana schools.
The work extends far beyond transactions and compliance.
Today's business offices are balancing stewardship and service, efficiency and accuracy, long-term planning and day-to-day execution. They're helping districts navigate some of the most challenging decisions they'll face. And much of that work happens quietly, behind the scenes.
As we listened, we couldn't help but think: This is exactly why Boyce exists.
Everything these leaders described -- clarity, consistency, communication, and shared responsibility -- depends on having strong processes and dependable tools.
We've long believed that the business office is the backbone of the district, performing the essential work that keeps Indiana schools running.
Our role is to support that work by helping districts operate more efficiently, reduce administrative burden, strengthen continuity, and minimize risk. Because when the routine work takes less time and effort, business offices gain more capacity to focus on the work only they can do.
Strong business offices are built intentionally. Clarity, consistency, and teamwork don't happen by accident.\
Communication is essential. Collaboration across functions improves accuracy, continuity, and decision-making.
Efficiency creates capacity. In an environment defined by financial pressure and staffing constraints, simplifying work matters.
The work of the business office deserves recognition. It may happen behind the scenes, but districts simply don't function without it.
We'd be remiss if we didn't note that both Richmond Community Schools and Lake Central School Corporation are Boyce customers. It's a privilege to learn from leaders we also have the opportunity to serve.
To Scott, Beth, Karen, and Rob: thank you for your candor, expertise, and leadership.
And to every school business professional doing the work behind the scenes each day, thank you.
We see the work you do. We understand its importance. And we're proud to partner with you as we look IN to the Future.
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