Describes the use of plastic identity badges with photographs and barcodes issued to all administrators, teachers, staff members, and students in grades 6-12 at the Cleveland Hill Union Free School District in Cheektowaga, New York. (PKP)

Examines the costs and benefits of District Education Foundations (DEFs) in California and New York. Includes the prevalence of DEFs, why they are formed, and the sources and uses of DEF funds. (PKP)

Describes the New York School Insurance Reciprocal (NYSIR) wherein 280 school districts in New York insure one another against property damage and injury. NYSIR member districts pay considerably less in premiums than they would pay through standard insurance companies. (PKP)

In the next 5 to 8 years, school boards and superintendents will face a shortage of qualified school business officials. As certain studies in New York, Pennsylvania, and California show, plans for recruitment, training, licensing, and skill development are needed to replace large numbers of retiring administrators. (Contains 10 references.) (MLH)

Describes the School Bus Driver Training Project in New York. (MLF)

Politicians are increasingly pressuring school districts to improve instruction while holding down costs. To achieve this aim, western New York school districts are experimenting with mutual gains bargaining, an alternative negotiation process based on Roger Fisher and William Ury's 1991 book "Getting to Yes." Instead of bargaining from…

Analyzes U.S. educational spending levels and sources, providing aggregate data for 50 states. Discusses spending disparities across districts and schools, using Schools and Staffing Survey data and highlighting California and Florida's spending disparities. Discusses how schools use available resources, based on research findings in Florida,…

Outlines the reasons for school district financial problems in the state of New York and suggests improvements. (Author/MLF)

Describes how Mahopac Central School District in upstate New York used home-to-school communications software to help improve communications with parents. Software allows parents online access to their child's school data such as course schedule, grades, discipline issues, assignments, and daily attendance via a password-protected district Web…

Describes a network formed by 96 school districts and 7 Boards of Cooperative Education Services to comply with New York State's 1980 chemical safety law. This shared services approach succeeds because of its cost effectiveness, convenience, and confidential liaison services. Major issues include recycling, sick building syndrome, disaster…

The return of equity in the 1990s coincided with increased state court activity and a change in national direction. As the New York State Commissioner's Study Group found, there is now more focus on school-level and outcome equity issues. The group recommended that the state develop an outcome-based entitlement plan for all children. (MLH)

A recent study developed efficiency indicators (grouped into price, personnel, productivity, and policy categories) as part of an ongoing internal benchmarking process to help six affluent New York school districts manage their facilities maintenance and operations processes. Based on data analysis, the greatest area for potential savings (from…

Safety audits were conducted in each of New York State's 750 school districts to help school administrators understand and comply with laws and regulations relating to the safety aspects of pupil transportation. (Author/MLF)

An ASBO member and chair of New York's School Emergency Response to Violent Events (SERVE) explains how this program tackles violence and teen suicide. SERVE teaches the basic principles of hostage situations, uses a confidential reporting system, and advocates safety audits and risk-reduction strategies. (MLH)

Describes the financing of a New York school district for emotionally disturbed children. Summarizes suggestions for controlling special education costs at the district level obtained from a nationwide sample of school business officials. Among the suggestions offered are to include a review of private placements and an annual caseload review,…