Part of the Oklahoma School Finance for Boards Series
Module VI shifts from where the money comes from to how financial systems protect public trust. This experience examines fund accounting, OCAS coding, and student activity funds so that board members can ensure dollars are used legally, reporting is accurate, and communities can follow how financial decisions support students. Beyond Paperwork OEFS focuses on governance, stewardship, accountability, and oversight rather than day-to-day financial administration. Participants examine how fund structures, coding, and activity-account controls function as stewardship—protecting restricted resources, enabling Equity analysis, and sustaining Community trust. Designed for School Board Members Created specifically for busy local school board members, this experience emphasizes reflection, governance application, and practical oversight considerations that can strengthen board service immediately. Guided by the OCEA Framework Every OEFS module is grounded in the principles of: • Opportunity • Community • Equity • Accountability These dimensions provide a consistent framework for examining financial issues, strengthening stewardship, and promoting informed governance. A Connected Governance Journey Participants may complete Module VI as a standalone experience or continue through the larger OSFB Series exploring a variety of school finance topics (including strategic budgeting, fiscal accountability, operational finance, and emerging finance trends).
Meet Your Instructor
Dr. Jeffrey Maiden is a professor and former educational leader with a passion for helping leaders navigate the complexity of digital learning. Drawing on experience in leadership, research, and professional learning, he created the Oklahoma Education Finance Series to help busy board members better understand systems, strengthen coherence, and take purposeful governance action. His work is guided by the OCEA (Opportunity, Community, Equity, and Accountability) Framework and a commitment to practical, meaningful leadership development.
A Welcome Message for Your Digital Leadership Journey!
In this brief introductory video, Dr. Jeffrey Maiden welcomes participants and introduces the importance of governing fund accounting, OCAS coding, and student activity funds so that public trust is protected and every dollar remains traceable to its purpose.
Perspectives about Academy Experiences from Educational Leaders
Leadership Perspective: "The experience challenged me to think beyond a district management paradigm toward a digital stewardship approach that frames leadership through relationships, instructional purpose, organizational culture, and professional judgment."
Practical Relevance: "As I transitioned into a district leadership role, I found myself returning to the ideas presented in each video as they closely mirrored the decisions I was making in practice."
Expert Perspective: The LEADS Framework for Strategic Leadership, which Dr. Jeff Maiden developed to improve educators' leadership development, is a must for all leaders who seek to deepen their knowledge of evidence-informed decision-making.
Reflection and Professional Growth: "Rather than offering a prescriptive model of leadership, the series encouraged thoughtful reflection."
Overall Experience: "Most importantly, the series strengthened my understanding that strategic digital leadership is ultimately an act of stewardship..."
Understand the budgeting process
Examine how various funds operate as distinct legal promises, and how encumbrance, segregation of duties, and clear fund-balance communication sustain Opportunity and Equity
Align fiscal accounting with district priorities
Govern the alignment between the fiscal accountability framework in OCAS and the educational system
Govern fiscal accountability
Develop a board action to improve fiscal responsibility and trust
About the learning experience
Public education finance is one of the most important responsibilities entrusted to local boards of education. Effective governance requires board members to understand how fund accounting, OCAS coding, and activity-fund controls protect public trust and keep restricted dollars attached to the students and purposes they were meant to serve. This Governance Application Experience helps school board members develop a practical understanding of fiscal accountability, transparency, and compliance while strengthening their capacity for informed oversight and stewardship. As participants progress through the experience, they complete a series of structured reflections and governance applications that are compiled into a downloadable Governance Reflection Journal. The journal serves as an ongoing professional resource, capturing insights, questions, and governance considerations that can inform future board service. Participants Conclude the Experience With: • A deeper understanding of fund accounting, OCAS coding, and activity-fund controls • Greater familiarity with how master schedules, class size, and staffing decisions shape the operating budget • An OCEA-based governance analysis of a local financial issue • A Governance Consideration Plan for board reflection • A downloadable Professional Development Certificate of Completion • A downloadable Governance Reflection Journal
How the Experience Works
Participants move from financial understanding to informed governance through a structured process of reflection, analysis, application, and stewardship. Video → Reflect → Apply → Integrate → Governance Application → Dialogue
Govern Systems That Protect Public Trust
$70.00