Effective school public relations is an investment in the school system that takes time, planning, and teamwork. Public relations should be an ongoing process using simple language and a targeted approach. Guidelines are presented. (MLF)

At the 1994 annual meeting of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), presentations and discussions indicated that college business officers are responding to their institutions' financial difficulties with innovative ways to reorganize, save money, and generate revenue. (Author/MSE)

College business officers whose institutions are not connected to the Internet can gain affordable access as individuals. Lists of Free-Net and community network systems in most states and of Internet and on-line service providers are offered. Additional sources of accounts are noted. Common Internet terms are also defined. (MSE)

Operations research (OR) is the use of measurable interrelationships to explain the predictable links between measured phenomena and variable outcomes. Provides examples of OR techniques in school business management. (MLF)

Four experienced college business officers discuss how to communicate financial information to the college community. They focus on the importance of establishing trust within the institution; the role of the business officer in strategic planning; typical misunderstandings and how to avoid and correct them; supporting the president; and keeping…

Describes the financing of a New York school district for emotionally disturbed children. Summarizes suggestions for controlling special education costs at the district level obtained from a nationwide sample of school business officials. Among the suggestions offered are to include a review of private placements and an annual caseload review,…

An effective college or university budget process is dependent on the culture of the institution. Different processes and budget types are appropriate to different institutions. Understanding the interrelationships of budgeting, planning, and financial modeling can help make the budget more predictable and relevant to the college's values and…

Uses of personal computers, or microcomputers (micros), by college business offices are discussed, with attention to safeguards. An advantage of using micros is that business officers can develop their own applications with purchased software and need not depend on the data processing staff. The micros, which are located in the business office and…

Presents the history and an overview of how generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) are established and by what process the standards are created. School business officials are invited to participate in the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), established as the standard setting body for state and local governments. (MLF)

Traditional public relations methods are used to educate the central administration, the school board, and the community about the budgeting structure of a school district. (MLF)

An educational platform, or philosophy, serves as a guide to administrative actions. Issues to be considered include aims of education, expectations for students, social significance of schooling, organizational climate, teachers' roles, student teacher relationships, and characteristics of students. (MLF)

Campus supervisors can be an integral part of a high school support staff, despite their cost. By carefully selecting good campus supervisors, districts can provide safer, cleaner, and more pleasant learning environments. (TE)

Recognizing and calculating the financial impact of unemployment insurance costs is the first stage in gaining control of these expenses. (Author)

Provides school administrators with three managerial aids to assist in creating an organizational vision: (1) an operating definition of the vision concept; (2) a planning framework to support vision creation and implementation; and (3) a specific method for leading school organizations through the visioning process. (MLF)

An Environmental Protection Agency program encourages energy conservation on campuses by consulting with colleges and universities willing to reduce energy used in lighting. Full program implementation in these and other organizations can create significant savings in demand for electricity and help fight global warming and acid rain. (MSE)