The publication, a training manual for rural advisory school boards, was developed by the Alaska State-Operated School System (ASOSS) and the Center for Northern Educational Research. It is a tangible demonstration that educational officials and policy makers at the State level are actively seeking ways to encourage local village residents to acquire the skills necessary to assume full operational responsibility for their schools. The position of the board of directors of ASOSS is that the board's responsibilities are transitional and that all rural Alaskan schools need to be organized on a local and regional basis as soon as possible. The training manual is divided into three sections: (1) organization and administration--State and Federal roles, legislation, State Board of Education role, and other State responsibilities; (2) school board organization--local organization, meetings, educational philosophy, board policy, program evaluation, school board-community relationships, school board personnel relationships, and school board and related organizations; and (3) other school board responsibilities--budgeting and buildings. Many pictures are included; a bibliography and index conclude the document. (AH)