To have an efficiently functioning school district, the roles of the school board and the administration must be clearly delineated, so that the school board formulates school policy while the superintendent implements it. To avoid dissention over their respective spheres of authority, it is best for a superintendent to establish two-way…

Offers examples of four common mistakes school boards make when dealing with the press. Suggests 10 specific steps for building a strong working relationship with members of the press. (IW)

Advocates the involvement of state boards of education in the design and implementation of international education programs and policies in relation to the conceptual and economic constraints facing two- and four-year institutions, legislative and administrative influences, and their implications for action. (AYC)

The public image of a school board can be enhanced if it handles business in a manner that inspires confidence. Seven suggestions are presented on topics such as location of meetings, procedures, agenda, handling audience comments, establishing priorities, handling complaints, and superintendent support. (TE)

The school board of the Maine Township High School District in Cook County, Illinois, negotiated a collective bargaining agreement with the local teachers' association independently of the teachers' employment contract. The board's negotiating team consists of five persons: three board members experienced in negotiations, of whom one is the…

Profiles Kathleen Brown Rice (sister of California governor Jerry Brown) and her role on the Los Angeles city board of education. (IRT)

School board records of School District 16 in Greenwood County, Kansas, for the years 1884-1893, reveal issues on the agenda that are still current: open meetings, budget cuts, teacher salaries, property tax increases, the length of the school year, rundown buildings, heating bills, and textbook selection. (MLF)

In this article, the author discusses the need of administrative support for board members. An effective board services office can help a lot in attracting and retaining community leaders. Board members need administrative support to help them manage events, records, communications, scheduling, correspondence and constituent service. In small to…

After urging boards to take control of their district's budget, the author describes four kinds of budgets and offers advice on the role the board should play in each phase of the budget cycle--preparation, formulation, adoption, and execution. (IRT)

Centers on importance of ideological thought systems in shaping political and organizational actions in educational governance. Argues that the ideological factor (1) links (or fails to link) school board members to their constituencies, (2) defines problems and processes for policymaking, and (3) communicates a mandate for action to school…

Examines some of the hazy areas involving censorship and sanctions for teachers who teach censored material or who violate none-too-clear school district rules or procedures. Looks also at clear cases of poor judgement on the part of teachers. (TB)

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…

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)

Examining reasons for school closure such as economics and equal educational opportunity, Lam concludes that school closings only serve to highlight inefficient school board policy, ineffective funding, and declining educational quality. (SK)

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)