School-related statutes and applicable court decisions in Illinois are presented in a question/answer format followed by legal citations. The following topics are discussed in 27 chapters: (1) Control of Illinois Public Schools; (2) School Boards; (3) School Board Membership; (4) School Election Procedures; (5) School Board Officers; (6) School…

Understanding the differences between education governance structures is important to understanding the entire education policy process. In almost all states, fiscal responsibility for education rests with the governor and the legislature. State education governance structures differ, falling into four basic models. In the first model the governor…

Intended for use as a workbook, this publication is designed to provide examples of the respective roles of the school board and the superintendent in the operation and management of a school district. The first section (white pages) provides statements, in parallel columns, describing possible board/superintendent roles under the following…

Defines sexual harassment and reminds school boards of their moral and legal obligation to protect employees and maintain an intimidation-free workplace. Offers several tips for preventing sexual harrassment and for launching investigations into complaints. (MLH)

Procedures for conducting an effective school board meeting at the Sidney Central School District, New York, include a monthly packet of information for board members, an unlisted telephone line to the superintendent's desk, and an agenda that lists future business for upcoming meetings. These procedures enable issues to be understood, discussed,…

Discusses the importance of personnel policies covering AIDS (and other communicable diseases) and presents relevant employee guidelines developed by teacher unions and school districts. Three insets offer additional Center for Disease Control guidelines, day-to-day considerations when working with AIDS employees, and available publications…

Pressured by public safety concerns, school boards have begun to adopt exclusionary policies and screening programs for pupils and employees infected with the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) virus. This article reviews recent court decisions based on the "handicapped individual" defense and urges administrators to present…

Discusses nine factors to consider when attempting to determine what kind of information and how much information a superintendent should supply to a school board concerning district operations. (PGD)

When considering student expulsion, it is important to keep complete records of all hearings and proceedings. Reviewed is a recent Pennsylvania court case in which a board decision to expel two students was overturned in the courts because no hearing records were kept. (MD)

Outlines lobbying techniques for use by school business officials in successful acquisition of needed computer equipment and software packages by school districts. (MD)

Administrative and judicial legalism puts pressure on local schools and narrows the scope of local decision-making. Presents the negative effects it has on the development of administrative leadership. (MD)

School boards need to be prepared to deal with potential disasters. Four districts whose school board presidents dealt with serious emergencies are described. The emergencies included the murder of a superintendent, a flood, a statewide teacher walkout, and the threat of financial collapse. (MD)

Examines the idea of establishing a merit pay commission within a school system that would have the authority to make merit pay decisions independent of school administrators. Presents the philosophic and legal issues associated with installing such a commission. (MD)

The findings from part 1 of the seventh annual American School Board Journal survey of school board members are reported. Board members listed their 14 most pressing concerns, with lack of financial support foremost; other concerns are listed by region, in order of the percentage who expressed each concern. (TE)

Some school systems are recognizing their responsibility to check software piracy, and a few publishers are responding to schools' needs and offering discounts on multiple copies of software to schools with policies protecting software copyright. Includes a model policy example. (MD)