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)

Constructing school facilities requires a multitude of considerations. Outlines a suggested sequence of processes and events that will be helpful in the three- to four-year planning phase. (MLF)

Clarifies the need for the building principal's increased responsibility in budget planning as school administration becomes more decentralized. Discusses traditional and program planning budgeting systems and the need for a staff needs assessment and staff participation in promoting the budget. Includes 14 references. (MLH)

As the leaders of the construction team, owners should (1) become knowledgeable about the construction industry, or hire someone who has that knowledge; (2) use familiar, tested, and fair contract forms; and (3) hire the most competent architects and engineers, and pay them fairly. (MLF)

Outlines two case histories of schools districts that have used microcomputers in the planning and management of pupil transportation systems. Using microcomputers in transportation planning is new and most effective in smaller, rural districts. (MD)

In the future, administrators will devote more time to master planning for their districts' facility needs. More attention will be given to form, shape, surfaces, size, and materials. This article outlines internal assessment questions to be asked by planners, discusses common facility design complaints, and recommends using a facility assessment…

District officials often assume that decentralization will produce immediate improvement, uncover abundant building-level expertise, and spawn productive, harmonious decision making. Staff development must be geared to eliminating false expectations, developing a thorough knowledge base, and understanding how to control and evaluate the program.…

Planning and implementing a website requires the participation of most school or district departments. There are four phases: planning and information gathering (pertaining to audience, cost estimation, purpose, content, and scope); design and layout considerations; construction and implementation; and final integration (involving policy and legal…

The techno-revolution is arriving in school business officials' domain. This article discusses four major effects of technology on budgeting and financial management of schools: enhanced strategic planning and mission building, budget standards without standardized spending, movement from system to student, and integration of multiple reporting…

Except for unusually large and complicated school building projects, it is more cost-effective to use consultants and in-house personnel for project administration than it is to retain an outside construction-management firm. (MLF)

Taxpayers expect school-construction projects to be managed efficiently and in accordance with environmental standards. Phases include selecting an architect and site, stating project requirements, working with the architect, considering environmental factors, getting budget estimates and reviews, and choosing a contractor and project-schedule…

John Naisbit addresses the changes in management and education that can be expected during the rest of the century in an interview with the executive director of the Association of School Business Officials, Ron Allen. (MD)

Three basic types of warehousing available to the school district are reviewed, which include (1) centralized storage facilities, (2) regionalized storage facilities, and (3) decentralized storage facilities. (CJH)

Offers suggestions for effective long-range educational planning, outlines steps for school district budget planning, and discusses the relationship between the two. (JG)

The President-Elect of the Association of School Business Officials discusses criteria used in the selection of an annual meeting site. (MLF)