As a candidate for a private-independent school headship, you must learn, in a short amount of time, a great deal about the school you are considering. If, like many candidates, you have more experience in programmatic areas (e.g., curricular and cocurricular programs, student issues, parent communication, faculty support) than in operations (e.g., facilities, finances, human resources, risk management), acquiring an understanding of a school’s financial condition could present a challenge. Look to the on-site interview(s) as the best time to gather the information you need about the budget and other monetary matters. Make sure you talk to the Chair of the Finance Committee and Business Manager/CFO separately. These people (with the current School Head) will provide the most useful detail in answering your questions.