This chapter of "Principles of School Business Management" identifies management theories that provide a fundamental conceptual knowledge base that school business officials can use to understand the school organizational setting and its influences on the day-to-day operation of the educational process. Particular attention is paid to…

This chapter of "Principles of School Business Management" provides an overview of the role of computers--and microcomputers in particular--in the school business management process. The chapter opens with a background discussion of the management information system (MIS) concept in general. This topic is examined in terms of the…

New legislation requiring that continuing health insurance benefits be offered to employees and their families generally apply to all health care benefit plans maintained by school districts. The new regulations are explained. (MLF)

A survey of nearly 400 members at an annual meeting of the Association of School Business Officials revealed that 228 (60 percent) used microcomputers for central office administrative purposes. Word processing, spreadsheet, and data management programs led the list of major applications. (MLF)

The cost-effective "wellness" health care approach, emphasized by many corporations, will soon be emphasized by school districts. Wellness programs, beneficial for employees, can be launched by utilization of community resources and by knowing employees' health needs. (CJH)

Argues that financial administrators in community colleges must be cognizant of trends in public policy at federal, state, and local levels if the financial strategy guiding resource allocation is to be effective. Looks at emerging conditions affecting public policy and their implications for community college financial administration. (AYC)

Considers leadership development and research as two ways of improving institutional decision making. Proposes an agenda for future development to strengthen the financial management of the nation's community, technical, and junior colleges. (AYC)

A two-time recipient of the Association of School Business Officials' Meritorious Budget Awards offers seven steps in transforming an acceptable line-item school budget to a program budget that could win awards for excellence in presentation. (MLF)

School districts are being asked to provide expanded variety and quality of educational services with fewer tax dollars. Discusses the search for accountability, productivity, quality, and equity in education and alerts school business officials to the problems and conflicts inherent in such a search. (MLF)

In addition to legislative accessibility requirements, other security issues facing school administrators who select a security system include the following: access control; user friendliness; durability or serviceability; life safety precautions; possibility of vandalism, theft, and tampering; and key control. Offers steps to take in considering…

An alternative approach to the traditional methods of professional growth is the development of a "reflective practice." The learning process in reflective practice begins with the examination of an individual's own actions and contrasting the actions to the ideal or intent of the practice. The process results in behavioral changes that…

A study at Texas A&M University investigated the role of the academic business administrator in fulfilling the institution's educational mission. A program of continuing administrator training was then implemented. Ten years later, another study examined the roles of senior academic business administrators in each of the university's colleges.…

Presents a six-part facilities-management strategy to assess the condition of facilities to develop realistic budgets for operations, maintenance, code and access upgrades, and capacity expansion. (MLF)

School districts offer teacher early retirement incentive plans (TERIPs) as an opportunity to hire less expensive teachers, reduce fringe benefits costs, and eliminate teaching positions. Discusses reasons for teachers to accept TERIP, and describes a computer model that allows school officials to calculate and compare costs incurred if an…

Addresses some of the tools and methods available to the business administrator as well as some of the obstacles present in communicating financial information. (MLF)