Events in the 10-year debate over school closings in Seattle, Washington, are chronicled. The Seattle Board of Education attempted to close 18 schools but had to reshape its policies in the face of massive community opposition. The need for efficient property management is stressed. (PP)

A discussion focuses on the emergence of collective bargaining in the public sector, the prevalence of bureaucratic climates in school districts, and the realization that conflict is a variable dependent on organizational climate and structure. (FG)

Although the Ann Arbor decision was based on a very narrow issue, the evidence used by the court in arriving at the decision is significant as a basis for future court actions in other circumstances. (HOD)

A number of school boards have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy out their superintendents' contracts. Offers advice from school board members, superintendents, search consultants, and school attorneys on the issues of contract buyouts. Calculates the cost of contract buyouts in four large school systems. (MLF)

Many school boards have considered searching for their next superintendent in the ranks of the business community. Both Minneapolis (Minnesota) and Milwaukee (Wisconsin) have businesspeople as superintendents. Contains a number of comments concerning advantages a businessperson can bring to the superintendency, as opposed to the need for proper…

This comprehensive reference reviews court decisions affecting the operation, management, and governance of public schools. This edition analyzes all public school cases decided during the 1982 calendar years and reported in West's Regional, Federal, and Supreme Court Resports, through the December 1982 advance sheets. Included as well are 1981…

A review of state laws in Washington state was conducted to determine how compulsory attendance laws for schools apply to the students of Renton Vocational-Technical Institute. It was found that the compulsory attendance laws of the state do not apply to vocational-technical institutes. The attendance policy of the local school board does apply,…

School board members can use board policies to set the direction for effective instructional management. Effective schools appear to have these characteristics in common: (1) strong instructional leadership by the principal, (2) a safe and orderly atmosphere, (3) high expectations of all students, (4) schoolwide emphasis on basic skills…

In the second of a five part study on least restrictive environment (LRE) placement for handicapped students, results from onsite observations of 134 local placement team meetings concerning 96 cases are examined. Sampling procedures used to determine cases in the five states are reviewed, as are the observation form and data collection…

In the federal case from New Jersey, "Taxman v. Board of Education of Township of Piscataway," the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a school board cannot use affirmative-action guidelines to decide which employees will be laid off. This article explains the precedents upon which the court based its August 1996 decision. (LMI)

This report presents specific recommendations for the continuing improvement of the elementary education provided by Dade County Public Schools (DCPS), Florida. Following a list of the 31 major recommendations and an introduction, the recommendations are discussed in greater detail. This discussion is organized around these themes: (1) setting and…

Case studies, interviews, letters, and nationwide questionnaire responses from hundreds of administrators constitute the data for this report. The first chapter discusses the meaning of and the reasons for staff development; the effect of staff development on school and community; the increasing role of teachers, principals, and school boards; the…

Several recent court cases on school censorship and control over the curriculum are summarized in order to draw implications for policy and action in these areas. Among the conclusions are: (1) private schools have more control over their curriculum than public schools; (2) the school library is a place where students may search for knowledge on…

Discusses the status of home schooling in Canada, pointing out the rapid expansion of the movement and the unresolved points of difference between schooling and the research findings used in its support. Urges full cooperation between schools and home schoolers. (JHZ)

Articles in the Danish press from July 1979 to June 1980 dealing with education are summarized. The topics covered include elementary and secondary schools, financial cutbacks, students, curriculum, educational experiments, special education, teachers, school boards, home environment, private schools, and teacher training. (IS)