Community service can raise students' self-esteem, develop moral character, and help students feel part of their community. However, school leaders need to be aware of the potential pitfalls associated with mandating community service. These include liability, cost, logistical hassles, and possible negative psychological effects on students. (MLF)

In hopes of shedding light on how public school leaders can better advocate on the state level for the needs of their schools and their students, The School Administrator turned to policymakers in different settings and with different political leanings. They invited a trio--a Republican state legislator from the Chicago suburbs, a rural…

In 1980, Tonnelly Central School District became the first school district in New York State to be dissolved pursuant to Section 1505 of Education Law, marking the first use of dissolution and annexation as a means by which to address the programmatic and management problems encountered in the operation of a central school district. Problems faced…

Publications summarized in this annotated bibliography address critical issues on the restructuring of school governance and organization, curriculum reform, and the professionalization of teachers. Included are articles on specific schools and school districts that have made significant progress in their efforts to improve student achievement…

Observing that effective employment contracts communicate the school board's expectations to individual administrators and enhance working relationships, this guide informs boards developing contracts for members of management teams of available alternatives. The importance of clarifying the relationship between the administrator and the board,…

Designed to assist Ohio educators with the responsibility of complying with the Copyright Revision Act of 1976, this handbook is intended to be used as a tool by library media personnel working in concert with school boards and local administrators to determine policies and procedures for compliance. Discussions include the following topics: (1) a…

The research, based on a March 1988 survey of all Ontario school boards (board and separate), was an attempt to identify and synthesize boards' employment equity/affirmative action policies and practices--in order to ensure that, ultimately, women are more equitably represented within the management positions in education. The findings of 52…

This study attempts to describe and assess the current state of selection and promotion systems for administrators in Ontario school boards and to develop an information base for parties involved with these procedures. The project also seeks to identify high quality procedures and ensure the elimination of bias and subjectivity in personnel…

This paper presents two separate but related addresses on the subject of the relationship between school boards and superintendents. The comments of Frances Harrison, chairman of the Rocky Mount City (North Carolina) Board of Education, focus on the importance of the superintendent selection process and on elements of the board-superintendent…

Public concern about substance abuse, fueled by political and media attention, is causing school administrators to consider a variety of approaches beyond traditional drug education. No procedures, methods, or rules regarding drug testing should be established in the absence of clear school board policy, and no policy decisions should be made…

Board members and administrators can build public confidence in their schools by taking every opportunity to communicate positive attitudes about the people in the schools. As leaders, they have the responsibility to use people power to promote the schools. If school employees feel good about their jobs, they will build confidence within the…

There has been some evidence that students who develop projects for science fairs continue their interest in science through high school and beyond. Local and regional fairs generally are slated as a prelude to state science fairs and the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Organizing a district science fair requires informed…

The paper reviews policies of the state of Arkansas concerning high school graduation requirements and reports on a survey of individual school districts in Arkansas in regard to their policies concerning program modification, graduation requirements, and graduation documentation for secondary special education students. Data are presented for the…

After 10 years' experience, the Salem County Vocational Technical Schools (New Jersey) have had positive results from developing objectives annually and clarifying long range goals. The Salem County Board of Education's philosophy is to operate the district as a business would, defining its function as human service and its product as the people…

To work well together, school boards and superintendents must reach agreement in certain sensitive areas of their relations. Five of these, briefly discussed, are (1) the degree to which administrators become involved in policymaking, and boards, in procedural issues; (2) the superintendent's authority over administrative appointments; (3) board…