WASBO University

Spring 2027 Semester

Courses being offered this semester

WASBO University offers three semesters each year in the spring, summer, and fall. For more information on each course, including active registrations, please click the course title below!

Accounts Payable Operations & Compliance

Master school AP/AR: from requisitions and POs to invoices, payments, receivables, and 1099s. Learn fraud prevention, strong controls, compliance, and reporting practices to ensure accurate, transparent, and efficient financial operations.

Audit Preparation for School Districts

Stay audit-ready by mastering fiscal year tasks: booking receivables/payables, managing taxes, handling contracts, and preparing letters. Learn to align activities, address findings, prep for audits, and apply GASB standards for accurate reporting.

Cash Reconciliation

Explore reconciling school district bank accounts with the general ledger. Learn best practices to spot discrepancies, stay audit-ready, and strengthen internal controls for effective cash management and accurate financial reporting.

Comprehensive School Safety

Covers school security essentials: DOJ safety plan compliance, law enforcement partnerships, access control, cameras, visitor management, and reunification. Equips leaders to build layered systems that protect students, staff, and facilities.

Construction Management

Guides leaders through school construction from planning to closeout. Covers budgeting, procurement, contractor collaboration, site management, change orders, mitigation, and post-construction steps like warranties and follow-up.

Managing School District Technology

Support informed decisions by collaborating with tech leaders to build safe, efficient digital environments. Explore device programs, secure systems and disaster recovery while understanding key responsibilities in district technology infrastructure.

Payroll Administration & Compliance

Learn payroll essentials for K-12: calendars, cycles, summer pay, tax withholding, and benefit deductions. Cover FLSA, reporting timelines, and employer duties. Explore W-2s, common errors, and best practices for compliance, controls, and efficiency.

Payroll Administration II - Cycles, Taxation & Reporting

Advance payroll skills: set calendars, manage taxes, and handle multiple employee groups. Learn to determine taxable income, apply deductions, and ensure compliance with 941 filings, unemployment reports, and Medicaid wage reporting.

Performance Management and Employee Relations in Wisconsin Schools

Build tools to support employee growth, engagement, and retention while managing relations in Wisconsin schools. Learn feedback strategies, performance management, culture building, legal basics, handbooks, and collaboration with employee groups.

School Nutrition Program Management

Manage district food service by comparing in-house and contracted programs. Learn operational, financial, and compliance impacts, with tools to evaluate models and meet National School Lunch Program and federal nutrition requirements.

Transportation Management

Learn key school transportation requirements: McKinney-Vento, special ed, and private/charter. Explore in-house vs. contracted services, routing, costs, video use, extracurricular needs, board policies, daycare stops, UHT, and drug/alcohol compliance

WI Staffing Law & Supervision

Examine Wisconsin-specific policies that affect staffing and teacher evaluations. Learn how to align local practices with state requirements, including licensing, certification, and supervision systems.

Referenda to Exceed the Revenue Limit

Examine legal and financial issues of exceeding revenue limits. Learn referendum history, recurring vs. non-recurring types, planning timelines, board actions, forecasting, ballot questions, campaigns, and insights from legal and district experts.

Finance for the Facility Director

Covers school security essentials: DOJ safety plan compliance, law enforcement partnerships, access control, cameras, visitor management, and reunification. Equips leaders to build layered systems that protect students, staff, and facilities.

Mastering WUFAR

Explore WUFAR, the language of Wisconsin school district accounting. Learn chart of accounts design, fund purposes, and applications through real-world district examples, gaining a clear, practical understanding of financial reporting requirements.

Leveraging Technology and AI for Effectiveness & Efficiency

Explore how tech and AI transform school business and facility operations. Learn applications in finance, HR, procurement, maintenance, and energy. Topics include automation, data analytics, AI for reporting, and strategies for adopting new tools.

Sustainable Facilities & Operations

Explore sustainable facility operations that cut costs and support long-term goals. Learn energy efficiency, green construction, solar, recycling, and salt reduction. Build a culture of sustainability and leverage funding like Focus on Energy.

Budget Development & Monitoring Basics

Learn the basics of school district budgeting: developing, presenting, publishing, and adopting budgets and tax levies. Explore methods to monitor and report throughout the year. Designed for those seeking a general overview of budget development.

Risk Financing: The Third Step in the Risk Management Process

Focus on risk financing: learn to fund and manage losses with retention, transfer, and insurance. Explore TCOR, deductibles, contracts, budgeting, claims reserves, and working with brokers, insurers, and vendors to align coverage with district needs.

Elements of Revenue and the Revenue Limit Worksheet

Understand how Wisconsin public schools are funded by examining local, state, and federal revenue sources and their interaction through the Revenue Limit Worksheet, shared costs, and aid formulas at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.

Capital Referenda and Issuing Bonds

Examine why, how, and when districts borrow through notes or bonds. Learn when referendums are required, legal steps, roles of advisors, underwriters, and counsel, plus the full cost and components of issuing school debt.

Risk Control: The Fourth Step in the Risk Management Process

Learn risk control strategies to reduce losses in schools: avoidance, prevention, reduction, segregation, and transfer. Topics include safety, cyber risks, liability, crisis planning, investigations, and compliance.

Risk Administration: The Fifth Step in the Risk Management Process

Learn the final step of risk management—risk administration. Explore building teams, coordinating stakeholders, managing contracts, and aligning with goals. Emphasis on proactive management, compliance, data use, and continuous improvement.