By involving all school district employees in budget planning, this superintendent has developed a successful process that might be useful to others. The year-long budget adoption process begins for the upcoming year on the first day of the new school year. A date-by-date budget planning calendar is provided. (PB)

A California administrator describes modular classroom furniture that both saves money and allows for creative classroom design and use. (MD)

Describes the savings a cooperative group of school systems were able to make when purchasing services and supplies as a group. It includes 15 school systems and has been in existence for 12 years. Includes a brief article explaining why school systems may not find cooperative buying to their advantage. (MD)

Ten years ago the new superintendent of District 11 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, learned the proposed budget was $12 million out of balance. Now the district has sound financial backing thanks to improving business practices. (MLF)

Recent court decisions and legislation show that an adequate school finance formula must provide sufficient money so public schools can teach all students. Four different approaches for determining school finance adequacy are: (1) determining the economic cost of various educational functions; (2) linking spending to performance benchmarks; (3)…

Outlines the reasons for having superintendents function as negotiators with employee unions. Includes six recommendations: (1) understand the negotiating process; (2) build a negotiating team; (3) know the costs; (4) learn negotiation rules; (5) develop a strategy; and (6) review these tips. Includes a list of pitfalls. (MD)

School-finance equity is deceivingly complex. Equity necessitates fair and just treatment, which might actually require unequal treatment of some individuals or groups. State governments face a tremendous challenge in developing school-finance systems that result in equity for children. Obstacles include finding the correct mix of taxes to…

Reviews three recent Supreme Court decisions affecting public aid to private religious schools. The court found that all three cases violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment. (MD)

In 1981 the transportation costs of an Ohio school district had increased 63 percent over a four-year period. A cost-cutting program was initiated that year, and by 1984 transportation cost increases had been cut to one percent. Includes a list of seven factors that contributed to the cost-cutting program. (MD)

The administration's proposal to end state and local tax deductions could cost public schools $24 billion in funding cuts and has far reaching ramifications for public education. Projections of state-by-state losses are presented as well as projections of tax liability increases to individuals and businesses. (MD)

An Illinois school system won a bond issue election with a 30-day marketing campaign. Helpful marketing practices include identification of the target audience and finding the best medium to reach the audience. (MLF)

Outlines the legal implications of comparable worth and recent court cases involving equal pay isues. Points out that where jobs are comparable and wages disparate without justification, courts have found employers guilty of wage discrimination. (MD)

School boards need to be prepared to deal with potential disasters. Four districts whose school board presidents dealt with serious emergencies are described. The emergencies included the murder of a superintendent, a flood, a statewide teacher walkout, and the threat of financial collapse. (MD)

Examines the idea of establishing a merit pay commission within a school system that would have the authority to make merit pay decisions independent of school administrators. Presents the philosophic and legal issues associated with installing such a commission. (MD)

Outlines the cost-saving decisions made by an Oregon school district as it faced a decreasing student population over the past 10 years. The district developed a resource management system that involved all levels of management, including the school board. (MD)