As a school, you're already familiar with how busy your environment can be, with students, teachers, and staff working together each day to foster a positive learning experience. But to ensure these spaces stay safe, comfortable, and supportive of learning, it’s important to have a well-planned maintenance strategy in place. A solid maintenance plan helps manage and preserve your school’s infrastructure, from classrooms and hallways to sports fields and playgrounds. Here’s why every school should have one: 1. Safety First A maintenance plan helps identify and address potential safety hazards in the school environment. Broken windows, faulty electrical systems, and uneven flooring can all pose serious risks to students and staff. Regular inspections and quick repairs are essential to keep everyone safe. 2. Preventing Costly Repairs By regularly maintaining school buildings and equipment, schools can catch small issues before they turn into big, expensive problems. For instance, a leaky roof left unchecked could eventually lead to significant water damage. Fixing problems early saves money in the long run and ensures that the school’s resources are being used wisely. 3. Creating a Positive Learning Environment A well-maintained school is more inviting and comfortable for both students and teachers. Clean, functioning facilities – such as working air conditioning, bright lighting, and functional restrooms – help maintain a productive atmosphere. When students feel comfortable in their environment, they can focus better and succeed academically. 4. Extending the Lifespan of School Property Schools invest a lot in their buildings and equipment. A regular maintenance plan helps extend the lifespan of these assets. Proper care of things like furniture, heating and cooling systems, and playground equipment ensures they last longer and continue to serve students well over time. 5. Compliance with Regulations Schools must comply with local or state regulations regarding safety, accessibility, and the overall condition of their facilities. A maintenance plan ensures that schools stay up-to-date with these requirements, avoiding potential fines or legal issues. In essence, a proactive maintenance plan is not just about fixing things when they break – it’s about creating a safe, efficient, and welcoming environment for everyone. By investing in a strong maintenance plan, schools are ensuring that their facilities are ready for the challenges of tomorrow and supporting the success of students today.

A reminder that Xero will be retiring the classic invoicing version on Thursday, February 27, 2025. While many of you have already transitioned to the new invoicing system—following Xero's automatic switch on September 2, 2024—some may still be in the process of moving from the classic to the new version. After the extended deadline of February 27, 2025, access to Xero Classic Invoicing will no longer be available. If you haven’t fully switched to the new invoicing system yet, now is the time to do so. Familiarising yourself with the updated interface before the deadline will give you time to adjust and become comfortable with the new features. To access Xero's guide on how to navigate the new invoicing system, visit: https://learning.central.xero.com/student/activity/3482 ?

Are you subscribed to our monthly newsletter, The Chalkboard? If not, you're missing out on a wealth of valuable information! Each issue is packed with the latest industry news, essential updates, and expert Xero tips and tricks—all designed to make life easier for schools like yours.  Whether you're a school administrator, finance officer, or part of the school leadership team, The Chalkboard offers insights and strategies designed to help you navigate the unique challenges of managing school finances and operations. Delivered straight to your inbox each month, it's your go-to resource for staying informed and ahead of the curve. To subscribe, simply follow the link below, scroll down to the "Sign up to Our Monthly Newsletter: The Chalkboard" section, and follow the easy steps to join our community of school leaders. https://www.afsl.nz/Resources

At Accounting For Schools, our reporting service is designed to provide schools with comprehensive, easy to understand, and meaningful data that facilitates informed decision making. Rather than overwhelming you with excessive information, we focus on providing only the financial data that is relevant and important—both at the time of reporting and moving forward. We highlight areas of opportunity and potential concern, allowing you to focus on the aspects of your financial situation that require attention. Our reports are prepared on time each month, and we present them in an easy-to-read format, free from accounting jargon. Each report includes a variance analysis, a commentary on your current financial position, and projections through to the end of the year. We keep our monthly commentaries concise, limiting them to one to two pages. Take control of your school’s financial future—partner with Accounting For Schools today to gain the insights you need for confident, strategic decision-making. Contact us at 04 909 7729 to learn more!

A school library is a hub for learning, creativity, and exploration, but it doesn't always take a large budget to make it an inviting space. With some thoughtful planning and creativity, you can breathe new life into your library without overspending. Whether you're looking to improve the physical space, create a more engaging environment, or make the library more accessible for students, there are plenty of budget-friendly ways to give your school library a fresh new look. Below, we’ll share a few practical and creative strategies to revamp your library without breaking the bank. Evaluate your space: This needs to happen before you begin doing anything else. One library layout does not fit all. So observing and planning is very important. Your primary goal is to make the library space user-friendly for all of your students. Is there a lot of collaboration and co-teaching going on in your space? Do you have students that come to the library to take reading quizzes, or do they come to use the space for studying/online classes? Asking yourself questions like this can help you plan a layout. Plan your space: When choosing a layout, sometimes the only decision-maker is you. But you don’t have to remain on your library island all alone, talk to other school librarians in your area and beyond. If you have seen a library layout that has been recently changed that you like, it doesn’t hurt to get others’ opinions on what they did in the planning stage. Redecorate your space: Many schools are feeling the budget crunch these days, so our advice is to make the most of what you already have. The key here is repurpose, refresh, recycle, and reuse. If something can't be revived but it's within your budget to replace it, then go for it! Otherwise it is time to revitalize what you have, and a fresh coat of paint can do wonders in transforming a space. Instead of buying new furniture, consider repainting or reupholstering old chairs and tables to give them a fresh, updated look. You can even repurpose items from other areas of the school or community to create comfortable reading nooks and cozy corners. One out-of-the-box idea that you might want to try is connecting with local businesses. They may be willing to donate new books, furniture, or supplies to help refresh your library. Building strong relationships with community members can lead to future collaborations that benefit both the school and the local businesses.

Are your contacts in Xero getting a little out of control? If the answer is yes it might be time for some Xero housekeeping! Duplicate contacts can easily be merged. All the financial data is merged into a single contact, and the duplicate is then archived. This allows you to keep all contact information and related transactions together, instead of across multiple records for the same contact. When you merge duplicate contact records, no transactions are deleted (this includes invoices, bills, and other financial transactions). The transaction details are added to the activity details of the contact you keep. To merge two or more contacts: 1. In the Contacts menu, select All contacts . 2. In the search field, start typing the name of the contact you want to merge. 3. Once you are satisfied the contacts are associated with the same company, select the checkbox for each contact you want to merge. Do not select the contact you want to retain . Ensure that the contact you keep has the correct bank account details. 4. Click Merge , then click Confirm merge . The merged contacts will be archived and all associated transactions will be merged into the activity details of the contact you keep. Note: You can restore a merged contact if necessary by going to the Archived section (highlighted in the image below in the top toolbar). In this section, simply click on the contact and then click the Restore button located on the right-hand side of the page. 

View our Chalkboard - January 2025: - Welcome back to Term 1, 2025! - 2024 Annual Accounts - Important Notices - Xero Tip of the Month: How to Merge Duplicate Contact Records - How to Revamp Your School Library on a Budget - Looking ahead https://public2.bomamarketing.com/email/aWj3

Go Paperless with Xero’s File Inbox Feature! Ditch the paper trail and switch to Xero’s File Inbox, a convenient and efficient document storage solution. This feature allows your school to move away from traditional archiving methods while enhancing both organisation and document accessibility. While this feature doesn’t replace Google Drive (we still prefer you to upload the information needed for monthly Management Reports and annual accounts to the AFS Google Drive folder), it offers a secure and accessible place to store your school’s documents, such as lease agreements, supplier contracts, and insurance policies—all in one easy-to-access location. In your Xero file library, you’ll find an Inbox and a Contracts folder, with the option to add any additional folders you may need. You can upload files directly to the file library or email them straight to the Inbox folder.  To access your Xero inbox and create a folder: Click your organisation name, then select Files. Click the "+ New Folder" option on the left hand side Name your folder, then click save. To email a file into your Xero inbox: Click your organisation name, then select Files. Copy your unique Xero files email address (found in the upper right section of the Files Library). Add the email address to your email, attach your file and send. Move the file out of the Inbox folder and into another folder if you want it to be available permanently. Or upload by: Click the organisation name, then select Files. (Optional) Select a folder to upload the file to. Click Upload File, then select your file. Alternatively, you can drag and drop an attachment from your computer into the Files screen Extra Tip: naming the files before you send them to Xero will save time filing them to folders