The National School Boards Association has developed a new statement that identifies four themes of governance for school boards today: setting the vision for education in the local community; establishing the structure and environment to implement the vision; assessing performance progress toward achieving the vision; and being the preeminent…

This paper argues that school boards give away too much in contract negotiations with teacher associations without making sure the concessions they make result in higher educational quality. Educational administrators' general lack of expertise in labor relations, the author maintains, tends to lead to low quality contracts. Reviewing 11 articles…

This report suggests that state boards of education are best able to make budgetary cuts after consulting professional staff, identifying basic educational objectives and goals, and determining which programs contribute most to the largest number of students. A board's decisions are facilitated by such legislation as Utah's Special Purpose…

Provides an outline of policy to follow when school boards must make negative decisions and say no to parents or special interest groups. Includes nine tips that school board members should remember during meetings. (MD)

School board members refuse to honor the elusive line separating governance and management, policy and administration. Reviews the influence of women board members, accountability, and parental pressure on school boards. (MLF)

Every school board would be wise to agree on a set of beliefs about how lasting change is made and how board operations can foster desired changes. Decisions are best made through a search for solutions that will at least partly satisfy everyone. Consensus is the preferred strategy for making decisions. (MLF)

Offers a practical review of commonsense principles that may assist a school business official in preparing for negotiations. Includes the role of the team, preparation for negotiations, process at the table, and settlement issues. (MLF)

Presents two systems for evaluating individual school board members and board meetings. (MD)

This report presents findings of a 1985 national study of the local school board. Information was gathered from case studies in nine major metropolitan areas, questionnaires administered to over 200 school board chairpersons, and literature on board governance. Chapter 1 offers an overview and questionnaire results. Chapter 2 summarizes major…

This is the 16th publication in an annual series intended to provide New Jersey board members and administrators who are representing their district in negotiations with the latest information on legal developments affecting negotiations, practical advice on bargaining strategy and tactics, and a handy source of reference for important case law.…

This annual report provides a general review of the significant activities and accomplishments of the Nebraska Technical Community College Association (NTCCA) during 1986, as well as enrollment, placement, program, and financial data on the Nebraska Technical Community College Areas. The report begins with an overview of the membership,…

Reports findings from a questionnaire, mailed to school board leaders in all 50 states, that focused on factors inhibiting school board members' effectiveness and that identified training needs of board members. Internal board politics were identified as the biggest problem, along with state interference. (TE)

Public schools and school boards are under attack from the religious right. Cites the strategies of some of these organizations, including quotes from Robert Simonds, the leader of Citizens for Excellence in Education. Advises school boards to have explicit policies on the selection of textbooks and academic freedom; to involve parents; and to…

Cites cases of ethical violations, such as patronage and nepotism in hiring practices, in some school districts. Advises school board members to review their personal and professional ethics and to consider measures that will help guide decisions when ethical dilemmas arise. Formal ethics training is recommended for all educators. (MLF)

School boards often must try to hammer together a consensus on difficult issues. A Colorado school district handled the issue of sex education by using the tools of democracy. The school board's role was to broker the dialog, to clarify community values, and to provide a detailed challenge process for citizens who disagree with the board's…