Intended for both the student and the practitioner, this text examines the role and function of the school business administrator and offers practical information relevant to the job. The authors recognize that the function of school business administration has radically changed in response to social changes. They believe that conventional projections of resource requirements and availability are dysfunctional and must be replaced by an approach that can accommodate nonlinear variables. This approach is described as a planning approach. The volume incorporates considerations of emerging conditions such as new legislation pertaining to race and sex discrimination, the changing responsibilities of school principals in business affairs, the acceptance of program budgeting, the increased sophistication of information and management systems, and new patterns in collective bargaining. Topics discussed include management techniques, human relations and communications techniques, data processing, budgeting, personnel administration, accounting, auditing, reporting, purchasing, inventory control, distribution, building maintenance and operation, insurance programs, auxiliary services, and capital outlay. (Author/JM)