Aging school infrastructure, changing population dynamics, decreased funding, and increased accountability for reporting school success all require today's school business officials to combine a variety of disparate data sets into a coherent system that enables effective and efficient decision making. School business officials are required to: (1)…

A computer at Valley View Schools, Illinois, is used to collect, store, maintain, and retrieve information about a school district's human resources. The system was designed to increase the efficiency and thoroughness of personnel and payroll record keeping, and reporting functions. (Author/MLF)

A cooperative program between the Department of Management Information Systems (MIS) at the University of Arizona and the NCR Corporation has resulted in laboratories used for instruction in basic MIS courses, research, and executive training. (MLF)

Prompted by the "millennium bug," many school districts are in the process of replacing non-Y2K-compliant information systems. Planners should establish a committee to develop performance criteria and select the winning proposal, estimate time requirements, and schedule retraining during low-activity periods. (MLH)

Describes the benefits and how to set up a georeferenced information system that contains standard student demographic data, the geographical location of each student, selected geographic location descriptors, growth factors attached to various land sections, and land usage and zoning. (MLF)

A software package aided a Colorado school district's conversion from one computer system to another. (MLF)

Education is challenged to use technology efficiently, since few software programs can share data. Users' applications and data are isolated from one another. The Schools Interoperability Framework enables applications to communicate through a common interface and standard data formats regardless of the host platform. Costs, advantages, and…

Focuses on the major issues faced by a school district throughout the implementation of a financial management information system. Describes how commercially available software was tailored to the specific needs of a Virginia school district. (MLF)

With the advent of high speed and sophisticated computer programs, all budgetary systems can be combined in one fiscal management information system. Defines and provides examples for the four budgeting systems: (1) function/object; (2) planning, programming, budgeting system; (3) zero-based budgeting; and (4) site-based budgeting. (MLF)

Self Insurance (pooling) offers premium dollar savings, improved coverage, and adequate limits to school districts, governmental entities, and private-sector groups. Outlines a common and safe pool structure. (MLF)

Presents the results from the Association of School Business Officials' 1987 member survey on automation. Results indicate types of computers and software programs in use and the steps to follow in selection of computers and software for administrative uses. Includes a statistical breakdown on the 30 questions used in the survey and three tables.…

Besides redistricting problems engendered by higher elementary school enrollments (and decreasing secondary enrollments), school administrators face student transport challenges. Acquiring new routes and larger buses could be costly. This article advances computerized systems as the most cost-effective way to optimize routes and manage…

Describes administrative computer use in the Concord (NH) School District. Applications discussed include procurement, cash flow and investment, accounting and control, and teacher contracts, all performed with in-house programs. (MCG)

The CO/OP (founded in 1973 as the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials Cooperative Corporation) has created and produced administrative software for schools. Describes two areas in which software can increase revenue and provide protection for personnel: (1) invoice/accounts receivable for the rental of school space; and (2) an…

Outlines the development of a computerized purchase requisition system for schools that is more efficient, cost effective, and dependable than a manual purchasing system. Includes two tables, one a model form for entering purchase orders, the other a purchase order detail form. (MD)