The author urges, among other consideration, that strikes be avoided when possible, that major decisions be made before the strike begins, that the district cultivate good relations with the media, and that unity among the board members be maintained. (IRT)

A superintendent describes the actions his district took when its community suffered a natural disaster and offers suggestions districts should take to be prepared to assist their communities under similar circumstances. (IRT)

Offers a checklist of 30 points to use in planning effective school board meetings. (WD)

Outlines five steps to follow in examining ways to make short-term cuts, three steps to take in making long-range plans, and several types of analyses that can be used in making reports. (IRT)

Successful school construction projects require careful planning. School boards and administrators should consider architectural firms and contracts carefully. Reduce costs by hiring subcontractors, requiring documentation for proposed changes, negotiating frequent site visits by architect, organizing board subcommittee to review work, and…

Handheld computers are just beginning to be introduced in schools. Before adopting the latest innovation, administrators must ask careful questions about issues and implications regarding leadership, teaching and learning, staff development, technology support, planning, infrastructure, safety and security, ethics, evaluation, curriculum, change,…

Among the nine steps developed by the Elloree Public Schools in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, are taking a crash course in school construction, considering hiring a consultant, defining goals, developing a management plan, creating a project description, drawing up a list of prospective architects, and soliciting presentations. (JBM)

Provides a checklist to help board members focus their thinking about reduction in force policies. (JM)

Provides evaluation snapshots of nine programs operated by the Chesapeake (Virginia) Public Schools to illustrate the importance of ongoing program assessment. Advises evaluators to use teamwork, employ a full-time evaluator, utilize consultants as needed, write annual management plans, involve school division administrators, and meet regularly.…

Interviews with parents, students, and staff members at a school of 850 seventh and eighth graders yielded a set of 8 fairly universal guidelines for creating and maintaining a safe learning environment. The high expectations the school had for its students was one response that was unanimous. (MLF)