The Government Accounting Standards Board notion of service efforts and accomplishments reporting is one step in a process of managing for results that includes strategic planning, development and use of performance measures of managing ongoing programs, and outputs to budgetary appropriation. Reports a trial application to one school district.…

Outsourcing of school services creates a need for educators to learn how best to select a contractor. Contracted student transportation is used to illustrate flexibility and creativity in writing a request for proposal, the evaluation process, and the importance of contractors' willingness to work alongside the district as a genuine business…

Examines the current interest in consortia among colleges and universities, and describes Five Colleges, Inc., one of the oldest consortiums in the United States. The advantages, challenges, and factors in such collaborative relationships are discussed, with some attention given to financial issues. (MSE)

The Finance Analysis Model builds a computerized reporting system that can separate costs by organizational setting, by function, by type or level of school, by individual schools, and by program. When these costs are cross-tabulated at each school, decision makers can communicate about how resources are being allocated and used. (7 tables, 15…

This guide is intended to help financial aid administrators (FAAs) interpret student financial aid information that appears in the Student Aid Report (SAR), a paper output document sent to the student, or in an Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR), which is an electronic record sent to the institution. The guide explains the codes and…

In most school districts, the chief business official is involved in some aspect of a variety of support functions. This book provides 101 ready-made, field-tested computerized templates of applications commonly used in school business administration. The 101 school business applications and corresponding templates are described in the text and…

The starting point of an effective school safety program is the development of a written policy statement that reflects the school board's belief in safety for its students and that is widely publicized to the staff and community. A sample safety/security policy is provided that lists, first, the superintendent's responsibilities in establishing a…

A roundtable discussion by executives of the Association of School Business Officials raises questions about the recruitment, preparation, and availability of school business officials in the coming years. (MLF)

The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) is the standard-setting body for establishing generally accepted accounting principles for school systems and all state and local governments. A brief summary of a statement prepared by GASB's staff outlines the proposed changes in school accounting and financial reporting. (MLF)

A total of 375 responses were received from two- and four-year colleges nationwide to a survey of compensation packages for the following positions: president; professor; and chief officers for academic concerns, business, facilities, purchasing, and computer services. Tables display data sorted by two- and four-year institutions and enrollment…

A staff development program for the business-office staff is a model for small-to-medium-size districts. A group meets weekly for 60 to 90 minutes to discuss each department's successes, goals, and new business items. Meeting minutes also let other school personnel understand the complexities of running a district. (MLF)

Principals want to be part of the decision-making process regarding business operational procedures. Principals want responsibility accompanied by the necessary authority along with having budgeting and other operational information readily available, technical assistance, evidence of equity, and immediate feedback. (MLF)

The Goals 2000 Act focuses on local decisions to improve education. The challenge for school business administrators will be to meet the changes in the way schools and districts operate in the areas of linking social services, budgeting, and purchasing. Lists the eight goals of the act, along with the objectives for measuring achievement of each…

Describes over 25 firms that have listed software applications that can be used by schools. Each listing includes the name of the software and a general description of its utility. Tables provide detailed listings of the software's functions, the type of support the company provides, and the hardware on which the software can be run. (MLF)

The skill levels of school business administrators can be divided into technical, human relations, and conceptual. Field-based research revealed that the more the districts rely on shared decision making, the higher the esteem and trust the other administrators had for the business administrator. (MLF)