D
nal Re
s is affecting her Res,
though the weekly
s focused on referent
contracts, budgets
e a big support group
. You can throw
table, and someone
lution for you or an
they’re doing it,”
so might get a couple
a couple of different
ecide how you can do
outhwest Regional,
30 districts, Chair
business administrale
School District,
eets on a quarterly
eeting virtually
oup most recently
es to bring his Rere
school begins in
ss re-opening, as well
tion from the DPI
the group’s May
a slight increase
tendees and noted
tricts in southwest
ften times a depart-
, so it’s really hard to
e office for half a day
payroll and accounts
ne person is responsis
said. “The benefit
ally is instead of a
gone from the office,
meeting in a little
a half, whereas some
an hour for a meeting
o for some people
ours of travel time
Members of the Northeast & Bay Area Regional m
LaBine agrees, saying that many business
managers in her Regional also are departments
of one and often wear multiple
hats, such as human resources and overseeing
food services.
“The virtual meetings have been giving
everyone the opportunity wherever they
are to just jump in,” LaBine said. “That’s
been the renewed energy with the flexibility
of virtual meetings.”
Both Regional chairs believe one of the
reasons for this renewed interest in the
regionals is that districts are trying to decipher
and plan for all of the unknowns
that come with the pandemic, such as
how to prepare their district to open in
the fall and how districts are setting up
records related to the CARES Act.
“Everything happened so quick with
COVID,” LaBine said. “The virtual meeting
has opened up more avenues to meet
more often even if we’re not able to meet
in person.”
Andrews, who has served as chair of the
Southwest Regional for about five years,