Collaborative teamwork between school board members and administrators in a rural Oregon community concerning negotiations has been positive. Under the new system, the teacher-versus-administrator conflict has been reduced; board members became involved in all the districts' committees; and the time spent on negotiations has been cut in half. (MLF)

Instead of a cast of characters, not unlike those of the television show "Seinfeld," school boards should be an ensemble. When a board collaborates in a trusting, positive atmosphere of mutual respect, these qualities are ultimately reflected in the classroom. Lists six questions that can help difficult boards find ways to work together. (MLF)

Argues that college trustees and administrators must move beyond their image as docile and weak followers, and learn how to follow the leader they have chosen. Five follower types are identified, focusing on the characteristics and responsibilities of "exceptional" followers, who work closely with the leader and actively participate in decision…

This guide is designed to assist fiscal policy team members in assessing current standards and practices of school transportation systems in relation to the total school program. Team members should read the guide independently to determine their own familiarity with requirements essential to school transportation operation. An introductory…

An Arizona school board member offers 13 tips for avoiding excessive or divisive emotional involvement in school board issues. These tips generally emphasize the importance of civility, open-mindedness, factual support for arguments, tact, detachment, and humor. (TE)

A state-sponsored pilot program is allowing the faculty at two North Carolina schools to experiment with school reform. Lead teachers serve as instructional leaders and coordinate teachers' efforts to develop class schedules, plan and organize inservice training, and analyze test scores. (MLF)

Findings from "Getting There from Here," a yearlong study of effective school leadership in 10 districts in 5 states, identify some of the problems that get in the way of effective school leadership. Offers nine practices that boards and superintendents can use to work together to achieve district goals. (MLF)

Teachers, superintendents, principals, and school board members in a number of Pennsylvania districts have come up with positive solutions to deal with challenges facing public schools. Although the problems they were faced with differed, educators found that by working together for a common goal in school cooperation committees, they could arrive…

A review of existing special education training models is presented along with a rationale for preservice training in the transdisciplinary team process. The transdisciplinary process is described, and recommendations for implementation of a transdisciplinary training program in special education teacher preparation are given. (Author/JDD)

Presents a formula for relating teacher salaries to student achievement. Discusses the problems inherent in measuring student achievement and the importance of the principal's administrative training. Includes a chart and diagrams. (MD)

Summarizes the characteristics of a winning school board team and provides a "togetherness index" to help boards evaluate their effectiveness. (MLF)

The Clarksville/Montgomery County (Tennessee) Board of Education has created a school-board contract that defines how the members will work together. (MLF)

"Lack of discipline" heads the list of major school problems in annual polls on public education. Studies show a major factor distinguishing effective schools is an "orderly climate." The school board must have a firm discipline policy that reflects its goals and relates discipline to the total learning process. In establishing policies the school…

The Teaching Research Transition Planning Project (Oregon) is implementing and evaluating the development of school/community teams to facilitate transition of handicapped students into the community. Preliminary evaluation results support the value of an outside stimulus to encourage collaboration, locally generated plans, and policy decision…

Offers practices on fostering school board teamwork and effectiveness: (1) establish a code of behavior; (2) enforce the code; (3) make sure the code is up-to-date; (4) define the roles and duties of the board president, vice president, and secretary; and (5) establish some goals and a way to assess progress. (MLF)