Thermal efficiency increased substantially when an underdeck metal building insulation system was used at the North Valley Occupational Center, an aircraft mechanic's school located at the edge of the Van Nuys, California, airport. (Author)

Describes the basic components of risk management, elements of a school-specific risk management program, and the value-added services provided by insurance carriers and other educational support organizations. (PKP)

Recommends six steps school districts should follow to effectively use data collection instruments to improve school safety: Survey each school respondent group, organize a safe schools action team, obtain additional information, conduct a safe schools analysis and develop recommendations, take action. Describes advantages collecting school safety…

Describes the use of video surveillance for school security, includes when to use video cameras, the features of video cameras, reasons not to use video surveillance, and legal issues. (PKP)

Presents overview of areas to consider when planning for the total cost of technology, including a brief look at the planning needed, equipment that should be considered, infrastructure needs, software considerations, maintenance issues, training, upgrades, and planning for system failures. (Author/PKP)

Discusses benefits of professional standards for school business officials. (PKP)

Provides an overview of cost-effectiveness analysis. Includes example of cost-effectiveness analysis of three literacy programs to help illustrate basic concepts. (PKP)

Describes how to secure E-Rate funding from the Universal Service Administrative Company's School and Libraries Division (SLD) to help school districts obtain telecommunications and Internet access. The SLD Web site address is www.sl.universalservice.org. (PKP)

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)

Describes research on reasons parents choose to homeschool their children, the academic achievement of homeschooled students, their social, emotional, and psychological development, and their success in college and in life. Examines the financial impact of homeschooling on public school districts in Oregon. (Contains 17 references.) (PKP)

Describes potential benefits of increased efficiency, optimization, and improved communication derived from school district use of facility-scheduling software. (PKP)

Provides brief overview of the legal history of vouchers in the United States; examines the controversy surrounding the Cleveland voucher program that culminated in the Supreme Court's 2002 decision in "Zelman v. Simmons-Harris"; reflects on the meaning of "Zelman" for school business officials and other educational leaders.…

Describes a program called Electronic Community for Teachers (ECOT), developed at Rice University and implemented in the Houston (Texas) Independent School District. The purpose of ECOT is to create an electronic community of teachers to enhance their understanding and use of educational technology. (PKP)

Describes how to recruit, hire, compensate, and retain well-qualified technical staff. (PKP)

Describes characteristics, responsibilities, and at-risk functions of professional school-construction managers. Describes Arizona's use of school-construction managers. (PKP)