Many students overlook the fact that our school is more than just a place for learning; it’s a community made up of not just students and teachers, but also dedicated staff members. This includes our principal, nurses, front office staff, and student services team. Recently, we had the opportunity to talk with our bookkeeper, Mrs. Jamie Livshin, to learn more about her important role in our school.

Some people mistakenly believe that school bookkeepers work in libraries, but in reality, they manage the school’s finances from the front office. Mrs. Livshin is responsible for ordering school supplies for all of our departments and keeping track of the school’s budget. With a background in business administration, she transitioned from handling attendance to her current position as bookkeeper at Apex High School about four years ago.

In her role, Mrs. Livshin works closely with the principal to ensure that our school’s financial operations run smoothly. The principal sets the budget for each department, and it’s Mrs. Livshin’s task to manage the spending to ensure everyone stays within their budget. Teachers must get approval from their department chairs for any expenditures, and Mrs. Livshin can reimburse them if they purchase items themselves with receipts.

To help with her responsibilities, Mrs. Livshin uses software like “SchoolFunds Online”, which is similar to quickbooks families use at home, and “Oracle.” These tools assist her in managing the school’s finances, handling online purchases, and tracking deposits from events such as sports games. Despite facing challenges and a steep learning curve with her ongoing training, she collaborates with the principal and the athletic director to keep everything on track.

Outside of her work, Mrs. Livshin enjoys watching her son swim and spending quality time with her family. She also takes pride in her two daughters, who have graduated from Apex High School. Mrs. Livshin encourages students to develop good money management skills, such as having a bank account or taking an economics class, to prepare them for the future financial responsibilities. Additionally, she is happy to assist with any questions about online school payments for events like prom, lunch passes, and parking fees, which are becoming more common in our school. Her dedication to both her family and her students shows her commitment to encourage a supportive and responsible community, and we truly appreciate all that Mrs. Livshin does.