To those outside the business office, it might seem like summer is when things wind down. But anyone managing budgets, buildings, or business operations knows the reality is quite different. 

Summer is not a break - it’s a pivot. The work doesn’t stop; it shifts.

This season is packed with critical responsibilities: year-end closeouts, audit prep, insurance renewals, HR transitions, campus improvements, and auxiliary program oversight. Facilities teams are in full swing, and business offices are managing multiple timelines at once. The pace may feel different, but the stakes are just as high.

Rather than push back against the myth, school business leaders can use this time to reframe it - not by explaining how busy they are, but by leading visibly, collaborating strategically and modeling balance.

Here are a few ways to do just that:

1. Use Summer to Strengthen Strategic Alignment

With fewer daily interruptions, summer is an ideal time to deepen alignment with key partners:

• Heads of School: Revisit long-term financial strategy, risk exposure, and capital priorities.
• Enrollment and Advancement Leaders: Collaborate on tuition modeling, financial aid strategy, and campaign planning.
• Academic Leaders: Coordinate on curriculum resources, staffing needs, classroom space usage, and professional development priorities to ensure operational support aligns with instructional goals.
• Board Leadership: Prepare for fall meetings with clear dashboards, updated forecasts, and strategic framing.

These conversations are easier to schedule and more productive when the academic calendar isn’t dictating every hour.
 

2. Make the Invisible Work Visible

Summer work often goes unnoticed - but it doesn’t have to. Consider documenting key projects with photos, metrics, and short narratives. Share highlights with faculty and staff at the start of the school year to build awareness and appreciation. Examples might include:

• Square footage painted or resealed
• Number of new hires onboarded
• Infrastructure upgrades completed
• Safety or compliance improvements

This isn’t about recognition - it’s about reinforcing the value of operational excellence in service of the school’s mission.

3. Reconnect with Colleagues and Peers

The summer calendar offers rare flexibility to reconnect with colleagues across departments or at peer institutions. A lunch, a phone call, or a campus visit can spark new ideas and strengthen professional networks. These relationships often lead to better cross-functional collaboration during the school year.

4. Make Progress on What Matters Most

Summer is a window for focused work. Whether it’s a policy overhaul, a system implementation, or a long-delayed analysis, this is the time to move the needle. Even incremental progress on a high-impact initiative can set the tone for the year ahead.

5. Acknowledge the Commitment - and Take a Break

Summer is demanding but it also offers a chance to step back. Encourage your team (and yourself) to take time off. Many seasoned business officers say the same thing: “When I return from vacation, the school is still standing.”

Modeling balance is part of leadership. It signals trust, sustainability, and perspective.

Final Thought

The myth of the “quiet summer” won’t disappear overnight - but school business leaders can reshape the narrative. Not by defending their workload, but by using this time with intention: to lead strategically, collaborate meaningfully, and recharge purposefully.

The work of summer is essential. Let’s make sure it’s also impactful.