Part of a 13-volume series designed to help Lutheran communities assess the feasibility of starting a Lutheran elementary school and to assist ongoing schools in current operation, this volume is intended to help Lutheran boards of education clarify their role and make policy. The first part of the document deals with role, function, and…

For effective schools, leadership is vital. As the structure of American education evolved, a model of how a local school board should function emerged. The model is briefly summarized and research on educational leadership, challenges of school board service in New York State, and responsibilities of school boards are discussed. Key leadership…

This guide provides practical advice regarding implementation of the Policy Governance model for school boards. Chapter 1, "Setting the Stage," explores questions commonly raised by boards prior to implementation of the Policy Governance model. Chapter 2, "The Theoretical Foundation," reviews the key theoretical principles of…

A school board expects its secretary-treasurer to be a senior staff member responsible for historical and financial recordkeeping and also to be a purchasing expert and a public relations officer. (MLF)

The school board president can ensure better board meetings by following tips on planning the agenda, conducting the meeting, and following up on board decisions. (MLF)

Conflict and controversy are facts of school board life. The former president of the Eugene, Oregon, School Board offers eight tips on ways to effectively handle controversy. (MLF)

In this document, the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) develops a framework to assist state policymakers, particularly, as well as other stakeholders, in initiating debate and reforms to redefine expectations and the role and responsibilities of school boards in fulfilling these expectations. These recommendations draw upon: analyses of…

The premise of this article is that there is no such thing as a value free education; that values appear in each public school's goals, curriculum, and activities as well as in the requirements set by the state. And it is the local school board that defines the goals and adopts the policies that reflect the values each community wants to transmit…

Developed by a special task force, this booklet is meant to define a comprehensive program of health education in the schools and to serve as a resource for the education and health professions. Its ten recommendations to state education agencies and policymakers include promoting school health education programs, providing technical assistance to…

Distinguishes three types of "mavericks" (single-issue advocaters, aspiring politicians, and administrative meddlers) who often complicate school board operations and offers six maxims for dealing with them, including understanding board members' personal motivations and conducting board business as openly as possible. (JBM)

The author's suggestions for dealing with single-issue board members include preparing for potential problems before "mavericks" take their seats, being fair to the maverick member's single issue, alerting mavericks to public pressure, and conducting a board self-analysis session. (JBM)

Spells out some tough guidelines for keeping school boards in charge of public schools. Suggests including in contracts a strong management rights clause, a no-strike clause, cancellation of all bargaining rights during the term of the contract, and specific and detailed restrictions on grievance procedures. (Author/JM)

Describes six danger signs that can indicate whether a school board is at risk of failing to serve the community properly, manage public funds wisely, or provide students with the best possible education. (LMI)

Selecting a superintendent is a complex and varied process. This is a comprehensive how-to guide intended to represent an overview of questions, problems, and actions a school board will have to consider and plan for in the search for a new superintendent. Early decisions include setting a schedule for the selection procedure, choosing a search…

To help leaders or "facilitators" of a series of simulation exercises on controversial issues for school board members, this guide describes how the simulations work and provides some of the materials required for the simulation exercise on censorship and book banning. After defining simulation or gaming exercises, the author notes the…