Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions help organizations manage critical operations from within one platform. These range from accounting and finance to payroll and human resources (HR). School districts are not often seen as businesses, but they are, in fact, large enterprises. In fact, the 100 largest school districts have an average of 155 schools. That means that they serve about 109,000 students and employ around 6,200 teachers. Using a K‑12 ERP solution – one created specifically to meet the needs of school districts – has tremendous benefits for the district as a whole. However, there are specific groups of stakeholders that see the most value from a K‑12 ERP.
Who Benefits from a K‑12 ERP Solution?
Chief Financial Officer
The role of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has expanded significantly in K‑12 districts. With an ERP solution made specifically to meet the needs of K‑12 districts, CFOs can have access to all areas of a district’s finances. This enables them to monitor spending, manage costs, and ensure compliance all from a single, convenient platform.
District Administrators
One of the most important aspects of a district administrator role is maintaining compliance with state and federal reporting. Eliminating the need to check multiple systems for the data they need and manually input it in their reports saves valuable time and money. A K‑12 ERP solution gives district administrators access to relevant, up-to-date information in one, secure platform.
Human Resources & Payroll
Employee retention is at the top of every organization’s priority list and K‑12 education is no different. A K‑12 ERP solution provides HR and payroll teams with the tools they need to ensure employees have a positive experience. A critical key to success is ensuring that employees are paid accurately and on time. From the ability to easily run reports to providing employees with the autonomy to update and manage their information, a solution like this one ensures the best possible experience for everyone.
Finance & Accounting
To be able to provide employees, parents, and students with the things they need, districts must ensure that they have taken the proper measures to secure funding. That responsibility is placed on the finance and accounting departments. The majority of funds for public schools come from state and local resources, with around 8% coming from federal sources, such as the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund. In order for school districts to continue receiving funds, it is essential for the money to be both acquired and allocated appropriately. An ERP solution integrates systems and simplifies reporting to streamline finance and accounting processes.
Parents & Students
Every decision made by a school district is with the intention to serve students and their parents. ERP solutions help departments across the district manage costs, alleviating expenses that parents have to cover. Public schools that aren’t able to cover expenses have to turn to taxpayers to approve referendums. The majority of increased tax funds go towards all operational costs. These include maintaining technology in existing school buildings, new construction, and even keeping school transportation vehicles full of fuel. Additionally, the money saved by using efficient processes can be spent on resources that can then be allocated in a way that provides students with the best possible educational experience.
Learn More About the Benefits of a K‑12 ERP Solution for Your District
Your district’s ability to manage critical operations is essential to its success. Contact us to learn more about how a K‑12 ERP solution can improve efficiencies in your district.