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SECTION III - CERTIFICATION PROGRAM CURRICULUM
Courses are divided into two areas of emphasis:
- HR/Payroll
- Bookkeeping/Accounting
Applicants should determine which courses are most aligned with their position. Some applicants will take a combination of courses from the two areas.
Course content, dates, times and presenters may be subject to change. Participants will be notified of any changes.
HR/PAYROLL Course Description Month Offered Overview of Missouri School Finance An overview of how schools are financed in the state of Missouri. Topics to be covered include:
- History of school finance in Missouri
- Key definitions
- Sources of revenue
- School funding formula
- State adequacy target
October workshop Overview of School Business Operations An overview of school business operations with a focus on several key areas, including:
- Listing and describing reports that must be filed with federal, state, and local agencies
- Reviewing pertinent school law
- Introducing fund accounting processes
- Reviewing school organizational issues and operational issues (how school boards and administrators function)
- Exploring inter-relationships between the business office and site operations – technology, facilities, maintenance, transportation, and food service.
Part of the program is devoted to discussion about the roles and functions of the school business official and how business, finance, and HR departments work together.
September workshop Business Ethics The course covers the legal, moral, and philosophical issues associated with proper business ethics. The course will review policies and codes of conduct that can serve as guidelines for employees to follow when and/or if confronted with tough or difficult decisions. Course material will also cover topics such as:
- Conflicts of interest
- Accountability
- Public trust
November Workshop
Fair Labor Standards Act Administration Topics to be covered in this course:
- Legal requirements related to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
- To whom the FLSA applies
- Minimum wage provisions of the FLSA
- Overtime provisions of the FLSA
- Child labor provisions of the FLSA
- Record keeping requirements of the FLSA
- How to promote and ensure compliance with the FLSA
- Best practices in complying with the FLSA, including policies, procedures, checklists, and forms
April Spring Conference Benefits Administration The course will emphasize:
- Laws, regulations, and practical aspects of providing employees with medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, life, and long-term care benefits
- Issues related to Affordable Care Act, HIPAA, COBRA, 403 (b), 401 (a), and Section 125 plans
November Workshop Federal Payroll
TaxesTopics to be covered in this course include:
- Verification of employment eligibility
- Worker classification for taxing purposes
- Employee withholding and advanced earned income credit
- Wages and other compensation
- Calculating and withholding tax
- Depositing federal employment taxes
- Employer’s quarterly federal tax return, Form 941
- Wage and tax statements, Form W-2
- Miscellaneous income statement, Form 1099 MISC
- Federal tax levy
- Social Security and Medicare-local government employees
April Spring Conference Payroll Fraud Prevention In this course, participants will learn to spot behavior or practices that may indicate fraudulent behavior, such as:
- Ghost employment
- Bid collusion
- Bogus billings
- Falsification of public record
- Fraudulent work related or personal injury claims and theft
Appropriate actions to take to investigate suspected fraud will be discussed. We will explore the legal duty and appropriate steps to pursue individuals suspected of fraudulent activities and learn to develop policies, practices, and procedures to reduce or eliminate fraud.
March workshop Group Unemployment & Disability Insurance This class will cover:
- Group unemployment insurance, group and personal disability insurance, and state unemployment insurance
- How to process workers’ compensation and disability claims, as well as keep the payroll office appropriately notified
- How to structure programs and monitor claims to both protect employees and the financial resources of the school corporation
- How to detect and deal with employee abuse or fraud related to unemployment and disability claims
- Effective occupational therapy programs and techniques to get employees back to work
April Spring Conference Labor Relations/Contract Administration The course will detail:
- Administration of the collective bargaining contract in regards to discussion, grievances, complaints, salaries and wages, and benefits
- The legal differences between an employee and an independent contractor
- Issues related to at-will employees
- Workers compensation
- Job site discrimination
- Sexual harassment
October Support Staff Conference Leaves & Absences This course will detail various types of employee leaves and absences including:
- Legal requirements related to leaves and absences
- Legal requirements related to temporary disability leave
- Legal requirements related to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- Workers Compensation as it relates to the district’s leave program(s)
- Federal military leave as required by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA)
- The difference between mandated state leave programs and local leave programs
- How to manage leave and absence programs and legal requirements as they relate to the programs
April Spring Conference Payroll Administration This course will provide an overview of:
- The payroll process
- Payroll balancing
- Budget coding
- Payroll accounting
- Using sample forms
- Legal requirements for payroll
- Electronic deposits
- Overtime
- Glossary of terms for payroll departments
November workshop PEERS/PSRS Reporting Topics to be covered in this course:
- Function and purpose of the two retirement systems
- Identification of covered positions and benefits
- Identification and completion of PEERS/PSRS forms
- Different types of service credit
- Applying
- Processing
- Obtaining
- Laws regulating employment after retirement
- PEERS/PSRS reports/reporting system
October Support Staff Conference Payroll Year-End Reporting Process The course will cover:
- Planning processes for the calendar year, school year and fiscal year
- Preparation steps for the Year End Process (understanding the basic calculation in payroll)
- Reconciliation steps which are required monthly, quarterly and annually
- Year End Process: understanding the Form W-2 and implementing new tax tables
March workshop BOOKKEEPING ACCOUNTING Course Description Month Offered Overview of Missouri School Finance An overview of how schools are financed in the state of Missouri. Topics to be covered include:
- History of school finance in Missouri
- Key definitions
- Sources of revenue
- School funding formula
- State adequacy target
October workshop Overview of School Business Operations An overview of school business operations with a focus on several key areas, including:
- Listing and describing reports that must be filed with federal, state, and local agencies
- Reviewing pertinent school law
- Introducing fund accounting processes
- Reviewing school organizational issues and operational issues (how school boards and administrators function)
- Exploring inter-relationships between the business office and site operations – technology, facilities,maintenance, transportation, and food service.
Part of the program is devoted to discussion about the roles and functions of the school business official and how business, finance and HR departments work together.
September workshop
Business Ethics The course covers the legal, moral, and philosophical issues associated with proper business ethics. The course will review policies and codes of conduct that can serve as guidelines for employees to follow when and/or if confronted with tough or difficult decisions. Course material will also cover topics such as:
- Conflicts of interest
- Accountability
- Public trust
November workshop
Account Codes and the DESE Accounting Manual Information to be covered in this course includes:
- Financial Account Codes for Missouri Schools
- The importance and impact of proper account coding
- How the coding structure allows uniform recording of funds passed from state and federal government sources
- How resources and reference materials evolve and change as the business environment and requirements for public information change
October Support Staff Conference Accounting Fundamentals This course will cover the basics of accounting for the district business office. Topics to be covered include:
- Double-entry accounting
- Basic accounting equation
- Account codes
- Introduction to encumbrances
- Preparing fund financial statements
- Budgets (transfers vs. amendments)
- Cash management responsibilities
- Purpose and need for internal controls
- Reconciliation
October workshop Activity Fund Accounting and Management This course will cover:
- Legal requirements related to managing activity funds
- School district responsibilities concerning the management of activity funds
- Sources of funds which may be accounted for in an activity fund
- Appropriate expenditures for Student Activity Funds
- Accounting procedures used in activity funds
- State laws governing sales tax collection, reporting, and remittance
- Best practices in managing activity funds
April Spring Conference Basics of Investing School Funds Topics to be covered in this course:
- Investment terminology
- Federal Reserve system
- Reporting requirements
- Compliance with the Public Funds Investment Act
- How to determine investment cycles
April Spring Conference Budget Development This course will cover key components for developing a school district budget. Topics include:
- Types of development processes
- Identify key areas of concern
- Estimate revenues and expenses
The governor’s budget recommendations for education will also be reviewed.
March workshop Budgeting Fundamentals This course will focus on basic budget principles, terminology, and practices needed by a school business official to create and manage a budget. Participants will learn about:
- Funds
- Sources of revenue and expenditures for each fund
- The difference between cash and operating balances
- How to develop and implement a budget
- The difference between preliminary and certified assessed valuation
- How to manage a monthly cash flow by fund.
- How to track and maintain revenues and expenditures
October workshop Cash Management Learn how to:
- Develop specifications for the selection of banking and other financial services
Apply concept of compensating balances - Comprehend procedures and legal constraints for cash collection and disbursement
- Analyze monthly internal transfers and loans
- Prepare a cash flow analysis, including a fund balance report for the board of education
- Deal with fraud and abuse
April Spring Conference Debt Planning and Management This course will provide information about selling bonds and the purpose and maintenance of a debt service fund. Topics will include:
- Review of demographic analyses, district facility information, bond project planning, and bond election strategies.
- Selling school bonds
- Bond basics
- Types of bonds
- Bond ratings
- Financial advisor
- Underwriters
- Bond counsel
- General rules
- Primary and secondary markets
- Attorney General tests and approval
- Debt structure
- Permanent school fund
- Bond insurance
- Bond portfolio management
March workshop Evaluating the Budget The session includes information about current and future formula funding issues as well as how to:
- Identify potential problems in a district budget
- Identify areas of budget concern
October workshop School Facilities Budget Management This course will focus on budgeting for operational and capital expenses in order to maintain the most effective learning environments. Topics will include how to:
- Review staffing required for essential operations
- Discuss contract services needed to support staff in technical areas
- Plan for required supplies and equipment needed to support operations
- Evaluate and prioritize capital expenditures: Immediate and Future
- Conduct facility assessments, track data, and recognize life cycles
- Plan for emergencies
April Spring Conference ELECTIVES YEAR TWO Setting the Tax Rate This workshop will focus on the process of setting the tax rate for a school district. Topics will include how to:
- Follow the process of completing the State Auditor forms.
- Plan, advertise, and conduct a tax rate hearing
- Prepare documents to provide at the hearing
Excel In this session you will learn how to:
- Use math, statistical, logic, and text functions
- Organize data by sorting and filtering
- Effectively present data in several chart formats
- Execute and apply various functions
- Create and format tables
Public Relations and Communication The ability to enhance and maintain a positive public image of public education and local schools is a valuable and vital skill. The course will explore techniques to:
- Master effective communications within the school community, with school board members, and in a public forum
- Proactively deal with rumor control
- Work with the media
Time Management The ability to effectively organize and plan how long you spend on specific activities is essential for success. This course will explore:
- Tools for time management
- Prioritization
- Scheduling
- Overcoming challenges
Essentials of Written Communication Good business writing skills are a must for school district employees. Letters, emails, reports and memos are important communication tools. This course will explore common challenges with:
- Grammar
- Punctuation
- Spelling
- Style and tone
Working With Your Superintendent - Building a Successful Partnership Being a trusted and valued partner is essential for success. Learn how to:
- Identify and understand your superintendent's priorities
- Align your work with his or hers
- Enhance your working relationship
CALENDAR AND CHART OF COURSES - YEAR ONE
Required 3
Accounting 10
HR/Payroll 10
July Renew MoASBO membership
Apply for SBS program
August Create program plan September Overview of School Business Operations (11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.) - Required
October
Support Staff Conference
Day One
Account Codes and the DESE Accounting Manual - Accounting
PEERS/PSRS Reporting - HR/Payroll
Labor Relations/Contract Administration - HR/Payroll
Day Two
Overview of Missouri School Finance (11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.) - Required
November
MASA/MoASBO Budget Workshop
Payroll Administration (9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.)
Benefits Administration (10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.)
Business Ethics (1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.) - Required
Day One
Accounting Fundamentals (8:45 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.)
Budgeting Fundamentals (10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.)
MASA/MoASBO Budget Workshop: Evaluating the Budget (11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.)
March
MASA/MoABO Budget Workshops
Day One
Debt Planning and Management (10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.) - Accounting
MASA/MoASBO Budget Workshop: Budget Development (11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.) - Accounting
Day Two
Payroll Fraud Prevention (8:45 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.)
Payroll Year-End Reporting (10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.)
April
MoASBO Spring Conference
Activity Fund Accounting and Management - Accounting Basics of Investing School Funds - Accounting
School Facilities Budget Management - Accounting
Cash Management - Accounting
Group Unemployment and Disability Insurance - HR/Payroll
Federal Payroll Taxes and Deductions - HR/Payroll
Leaves and Absences - HR/Payroll
Fair Labor Standards Act Administration - HR/Payroll
CALENDAR AND CHART OF COURSES - YEAR TWO ELECTIVES
Select:
- Three webinars OR two webinars and one workshop from the table below
- Five total sessions from conferences - Support Staff (2) and Spring Conferences (3)
*Courses from the other area of focus may be substituted for two of the webinar electives. Duplication of courses will not be counted to meet the number of course requirements.
Topic Method of Delivery Month Excel Webinar September Time Management Webinar November Working with your Superintendent - Building a Successful Partnership Webinar January Essentials of Written Communication Webinar February Public Relations and Communication Webinar/Video March
Setting the Tax Rate Workshop August
Following the summer DESE conference
Breakout session Breakout session
Support Staff Conference October Breakout session
Breakout session
Breakout session
Spring Conference April