Talbott Springs Elementary School (Columbia, Maryland) has lots of open space and cheerful colors and growing pains. (Author)

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

A Missouri school district found the most cost-effective means of designing, bidding, and constructing new facilities to be hiring a construction management firm. With a construction manager, the school district's interests come first, and the district can tailor project-delivery strategies to specific needs. Outlines how the process works. (MLF)

A firm that has designed many preschool and elementary school projects identifies three factors that are vital to successful design for young children: protection, interaction, and scale. Accompanying drawings of three projects illustrate these design principles. (MLF)

Studies show that deteriorating school facilities take their toll on students' and teachers' health and morale. Classrooms should be accessible to the outdoors; clustered around a commons; adaptable and flexible; and aesthetically pleasing. Architects say natural lighting and noise reduction are routine parts of their job. Research studies support…

Skyline School is a flexible and economical elementary and high school design for 400 pupils. The library, a large resource center serving all ages, and the administration offices are accented by landscaped courts. There are two instructional material centers per grade grouping of K-6 and 7-12. Grades 1-6 surround the kindergarten, which has…

Too many school/business partnerships focus on narrow, highly visible issues (like dropouts) without substantially improving schools' academic and vocational programs. Schools and community employers (including government agencies) should cooperate to reshape the total school program through planning, curriculum revision, staff development,…

Many school buildings are in dire need of renovation, expansion, or replacement. Brief case studies from around the country illustrate the importance of finding out why people vote for or against a construction referendum. Lists recommendations for a strategic campaign. (MLF)

Most school board members and superintendents want to leave a lasting legacy to their district. To do this, they need to acknowledge that large-scale change is complex and takes time and that the system will outlast them. Board members can give their communities the gifts of vision, process, and competence. (MLF)

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.…

Nevada's Clark County, the fastest growing school district in the nation, uses a life-cycle facilities management approach that monitors the individual components of each building on a database. The district's 10-year building program is addressing facilities infrastructure renewal, deferred maintenance, replacement, and new school construction.…

Outlines 11 essential qualities needed in a good school board president. (MD)

Guidelines are offered for profitably disposing of surplus school property. Included are instructions for conducting building and site analyses and market studies. (MLF)

Issue management is the tracking of social change and the forecasting of the effect it will have on a school district. Explains seven requirements in setting up an issue-management program in schools and offers tips on communicating with the community. (MLF)

Using the strategy of "divide and conquer" can lead to victory at the polls. The ballot can include two freestanding questions, either or both of which can pass or fail independently, or it can be designed in such a way that approval of question two is contingent on question one passing. (MLF)