Effective and efficient management of school district custodial and maintenance services can be achieved by contracting out these services. A competent management company will offer a computerized management system and a complete training program. Prospective management companies should also offer management and cost controls. (MLF)

The essential elements of school board governance involve four dimensions: (1) setting the vision for what the community wants the public school program to be; (2) ensuring that districts have a solid staff infrastructure to achieve the vision; (3) setting standards; and (4) advocating for schools. (MLF)

Two bus accidents taught a school district the value of a self-developed plan of response to a school bus accident. Provides a sample school bus accident preparedness plan. (MLF)

Rapid advances in information technology have rendered conventional approaches to planning and budgeting useless, and no single method is universally appropriate. The most successful planning efforts are consistent with the institution's overall plan, and may combine conventional, opportunistic, and entrepreneurial approaches. Chief financial…

The Willow Creek Community Church, an entrepreneurial, market-driven Presbyterian church founded in 1975, provided the model for a group of business leaders and campus business officers to consider how change can be effected in higher education institutions. The group concurred on founding principles for three utopian universities. (MSE)

This chapter of "Principles of School Business Management" discusses the effective management of purchasing processes in a school district. These processes include obtaining materials, supplies, and equipment of maximum value for the least expense, and receiving, storing, and distributing the items obtained. The chapter opens with an overview of…

This chapter of "Principles of School Business Management" looks at the role of the school business official in an era of declining enrollments. Following an introductory review of national enrollment trends, the chapter discusses the use of the cohort survival technique for enrollment projection. The focus then shifts to the impact of enrollment…

This article argues that hiring a business manager makes good fiscal sense in many school districts if it frees the superintendent to focus on important educational tasks. (TE)

Underscores the importance of informed decision making through accurate anticipation of cost incurrence in light of changing economic and environmental conditions. Explains the concepts of cost accounting, full allocation of costs, the selection of an allocation base, the allocation of indirect costs, depreciation, and implications for community…

Reviews ERIC materials dealing with money management, fund raising, financial planning, and other aspects of college administration dealt with by campus business officials at community colleges. (AYC)

Offers a brief synopsis of the unique characteristics of the following roof membranes: (1) built-up roofing; (2) elastoplastic membranes; (3) modified bitumen membranes; (4) liquid applied membranes; and (5) metal roofing. A chart compares the characteristics of the raw membranes only. (MLF)

An effective way to prepare for school budget presentations is to research accurate responses to "hot issues." Lists the 24 questions most frequently asked at public budget hearings; and outlines a generic response to each of the 10 toughest questions. (MLF)

The specific steps involved in developing an evaluation system for use with school business officials include: (1) purposes of evaluation; (2) cycle to be followed; (3) criteria; (4) types and numbers of performance objectives; (5) data to be used; and (6) procedures to be used in conducting both formative and summative evaluation. (MLF)

Questions and answers to help school business officials weed through the promotional material in order to determine the roofing system right for their buildings. (MLF)

The Pinnacle awards are presented annually by the Association of School Business Officials International to four members who have created an outstanding practice, proposal, or publication that enhances the school business management profession. Presents summaries of each of the 1994 recipients' award-winning projects. (MLF)