The economic crisis has had--and will continue to have--a dramatic effect on tax revenue and education spending throughout the United States and beyond. Yet children still show up for school every day in need of an education. In times like these, educators and school business managers must be as committed as ever to providing it. The economic…

The three major players in the current efforts to privatize schools are the following companies: Education Alternatives, Inc., the Edison Project, and Public Strategies Group Inc. Explanations of their programs include core competencies, economic capability, technological capability, and strategic capability. (MLF)

Contract management of school maintenance and operations is a growing trend. In-house departments need to be prepared to justify their positions. Describes a Texas school district's request for proposal for contract management and includes the specifications for bidding with comments about the wording of the document. (MLF)

In "Corporate School Takeovers," the National Education Association expresses indignation over profit making by private companies providing services to schools. Argues that profits are a way of recognizing costs that exist in all school settings. The seeking of profits is no more selfish than the seeking of higher salaries, promotions,…

Schools and other government facilities want to see whether privatization of maintenance can provide services as efficiently and at less cost than inhouse workers. Privatization proponents say that everyone will benefit the most if the bidding process involves competition. Offers examples from the Memphis City Schools and the Union Public Schools…

Examines privatization of pupil transportation and suggests that asset ownership may be separated from asset operation. Discusses the advantages of a school district owning its school buses if operation is contracted out. (MLF)

Privatization will not go away. As public schools privatize more and more educational services, differences between enrollment in public and private schools will blur. Private corporations can more easily adopt new service-delivery technologies. States and school districts are responding with public-school choice and tuition tax credits. (MLH)

Calls for the continued privatization of public schools and the application of business solutions to school management problems are nothing new. Successful small-scale experiments at privatization will continue to have an incremental effect on educational reform. Even failed experiments offer opportunities about how to manage public education.…

Examines background issues on privatization along with reviewing arguments regarding its adoption. Notes the vertical lack of governmental controls and regulation of privatization. Raises lingering legal questions that remain in the rush to privatization. (MLF)

Three school districts are working successfully with a private contractor to reduce the operating costs of lunch programs, while increasing participation and maintaining nutrition standards. The facilities department of the fourth school is producing higher quality work and greater accountability under the direction of a private contractor. (MLF)

Education Alternatives, Inc., is under contract to the Baltimore City Public Schools (Maryland) to provide educational service to eight elementary and one middle school. A program called "Tesseract" uses a systemic approach to ensure continuous quality. (MLF)

The expertise and resources of contracted student transportation can free up school administrators' time and attention. When school boards are considering contracting student transportation, the school business official's role is crucial in taking an objective look at all the policy options. Cites three sources for additional information. (MLF)

North Chicago, Illinois, District 187, received a districtwide overhaul of lighting, heating, ventilation, and security systems through a 10-year performance contract with the Honeywell Corporation. The Briarcliff Manor Union-Free School District, New York, has a contract with Johnson Controls that guarantees a portion of the energy savings…

Salient school employee-relations issues include elimination of positions because of budgetary austerity; and managerial initiatives toward higher productivity through enhanced technology and an ever-smaller, core, full-time workforce. (MLF)

Outsourcing of school services creates a need for educators to learn how best to select a contractor. Contracted student transportation is used to illustrate flexibility and creativity in writing a request for proposal, the evaluation process, and the importance of contractors' willingness to work alongside the district as a genuine business…