Offers 10 rules for effective school board members. Good board members are team players--objective, consistent, reliable, and optimistic; visit schools; listen; support board decisions yet retain their individuality; communicate with all constituents; have an investment in education; and support students. (LMI)

In 1980, a joint committee of the National School Boards Association (NSBA) and the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) developed a publication for school boards and superintendents. The publication is being revised to reflect changes in education and society. Presents from the joint NSBA/AASA statement the responsibilities of…

Working through a group approach with the community will help school districts reach a multicultural, multiracial consensus to ensure an excellent and equitable education for every child. There is a valid role for Afrocentric and Eurocentric concepts in a pluralist context which includes Hispanic, Native American, and Asian perspectives as well.…

School board difficulties are not a problem of people, but of process. This book presents a radically new model of board governance that energizes board members to build a strong, vibrant organization that achieves its goals. Following the preface, chapter 1 recounts the varieties of boards, their predictable difficulties, and the need for more…

Beginning with brief descriptions of the statutory duties of school board presidents and clerks, as well as of boards and administrators in teacher hearing procedures, this handbook is intended to serve as a guide for administrators, local board presidents, clerks, and secretaries in recording board of education meetings. Following chapter 1's…

The organization and responsibilities of trustees of independent schools has changed and increased greatly over the last decade. The first chapter gives a summary of independent school trusteeship that may aid in the orientation of new trustees. The five concepts of trusteeship are discussed: ethos, change, partnership, leadership, and volunteer…

This booklet was designed as a guide for administrators involved in the school desegregation process in Illinois. The following information is provided: a list of requirements for the elimination and prevention of school segregation and racial discrimination under Illinois' School Code; a model for local districts to use in implementing…

Before 1960, the Catholic laity had virtually no say in the governance of Catholic schools. All decisions were made and handed down by bishops, pastors, and provincial superiors of religious orders. Now most dioceses and perhaps half the parishes in the country have a board or committee that shares significantly in decision-making about such…

Offers suggestions for school boards to follow to help keep divisiveness from hampering the board's effectiveness. These include reorganizing the board structure, using ad hoc committees to avoid board conflict, and having an impartial chairman with good leadership abilities. (MD)

A resource document released by the National Association of State Boards of Education recommends standardizing the criteria for approving home instruction and shoring up progress reporting and evaluation procedures. These recommendations have implications for the ways local districts locate and monitor home instruction. (MLF)

Analyzes interviews with 81 Nebraska superintendents who had experienced "critical incidents" in their dealings with school board members. Of the 5 main categories, the most frequently cited were the following: (1) problems with relatives and friends (23 percent); (2) personal agendas (21 percent); and (3) disputes over hiring and firing…

The North Dakota University System (NDUS) is composed of two doctoral universities, two master's degree-granting universities, two universities that offer bachelor's degrees and five community colleges that offer associate and trade/technical degrees. Each institution is unique in its mission to serve the people of North Dakota. The "2009…

With little attention paid to the way barriers to learning are addressed, many students are unable to take advantage of instructional improvements. During 1998 a nationwide coalition of organizations was established which focused on how to enhance policy cohesion in the area of barriers to student learning. This report provides information for…

School board members can be most effective if they are fully aware of their responsibilities, their political situations, and practical methods for maximizing the impact of their actions. This handbook reviews these elements of success in eight chapters. The first chapter advises the board member on how to determine his or her role in relation to…

This manual is a resource document and guide for school boards to use in recruiting and selecting a superintendent. The material provides a basis to first identify the critical decisions that need to be made and, second, to consider alternatives or options to each of the major decision areas. The following factors are discussed: (1) the board's…