If a survey questionnaire is designed and worded effectively, volunteers can be used to conduct it. Apple Valley-Rosemount (Minnesota) found that volunteers need not be trained in interviewing techniques, and that the school board and administration can reap a wealth of high quality data and benefits not normally available with conventional, more…

A public opinion poll should not only tell the board and administrators what the public thinks but should also indicate what that thinking means. Explains how a school district public opinion poll of real use to the board and administration can be designed to identify public opinion, public knowledge, and public vision; and be conducted with…

Briefly outlines five ways to ensure accountability: scrutinize student achievement, conduct surveys of teacher and community attitudes toward district performance, carefully review how funds are spent, ask administrators to look closely at programs, and evaluate administrators and teachers regularly. (Author/JM)