by Matt McGregor and Nichole Schweitzer
This article originally appeared on the School Business Now website starting in May 2026 and is reposted with permission of the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO). The text herein does not necessarily represent the views or policies of ASBO International, and use of this imprint does not imply any endorsement or recognition by ASBO International and its officers or affiliates.
When district leaders understand the language of design and construction, they are better equipped to ask the right questions, evaluate
professional recommendations, and protect their district's financial and operational interests.
For many district administrators and school board members, conversations about school facility projects can feel overwhelming. Acronyms fly. Technical terms pile up. Timelines, contracts, cost estimates, and design jargon blur together. It can seem as though architects and construction professionals are speaking an entirely different language—one that education leaders were never formally taught to understand.