A school business administrator should be equipped to lead a district facility planning effort. Describes the processes of demographic planning, facility assessing, long-range financial facility plan budgeting, and aligning the facility plan with the district strategic plan. (MLF)

Describes the use of a cost-efficiency plan to enhance educational productivity during the second wave of accountability. Describes cost-efficiency plan consisting of five components: goals and objectives, criteria, procedures, outcome, and evaluation. Provides tips for developing the cost-efficiency implementation plan. (Contains 31 references.)…

Suggests that 2-year contracts for superintendents inhibit school districts' school-reform efforts. (PKP)

Secondary school enrollment will be reduced over the next 13 years, while elementary enrollment will begin to rise steadily. School district planning may include reduction in specialized courses, policies encouraging secondary teachers to retrain as elementary teachers, and "mothballing" buildings. (MLF)

Outlines the detailed tasks involved in development of specifications for purchasing requirements. Includes forms of open specifications, basic content, group terms, measurements, and the wording of specifications. (MD)

Gives a brief but current overview of the how to'' stage of PPBES, and where this new concept is after seven years of discussion and experimental application at scattered schools and districts in the nation. Gives the approaches to PPBES and educational resource management by a professor, a school administrator, and a businessman consultant.…

Describes the educational benefits of high-performance schools, buildings that are efficient, healthy, safe, and easy to operate and maintain. Also briefly describes how to create a high-performance school drawn from volume I (Planning) of the three-volume Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) "Best Practices Manual." (For more…

To interlink major systems, some communication companies are proposing construction of communication towers on school grounds. Schools and municipal governments possess strategically located, unzoned properties. Districts planning to tap this financial oil well should draw up a lease agreement specifying property use, term, rent, access rights,…

Describes cooperative effort between Association of School Business Officials, International and National Forum on Education Statistics to develop a guide to facilities maintenance planning, to be completed in 2 years, for use by local school districts. (PKP)

Outlines four phases in the development of a disaster recovery plan that will ensure minimal disruption of operations in the event of a disaster. (MD)

The possibility that electric and magnetic field radiation poses a health hazard should be recognized during the planning and designing of a school. A preconstruction assessment of possible exposure should be evaluated before the start of construction. (MLF)

With careful planning and a strategic focus, today's technology can greatly enhance a district's marketing efforts. Websites can offer features such as interactive school assignment (based on home address), ability to check student progress, education portals (24-hour news channels), one-to-one communication, and interactive voice responses. (MLH)

After fire and smoke damaged an upstate New York school's cafeteria, kitchen, and administrative offices, the district superintendent contacted a professional construction-management firm to begin restoration and reopen the school within days. Safety and sensitivity to building occupants' needs were paramount. (MLH)

Describes several common mistakes made by school boards, for example, failing to create a comprehensive school charter and hiring too many paid consultants; asserts that boards must avoid these mistakes and adopt practices that contribute to the strategic governance of schools. (PKP)

Although certain crises cannot be prevented, reactions to many can be planned. A crisis-management team should be organized for each building. Critical crisis-plan elements include telephone trees, forms, reference articles, sample letters, and processes for dealing with local media. Spokespersons should have facts straight before speaking. (MLH)