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

Describes three-step guide to choosing computer hardware: Determining system requirements, making the purchase, living with your choices. (PKP)

Discusses the work environment of school business officials, including challenges and opportunities. (PKP)

Describes benefits of partnership between Association of School Business Officials International's Meritorious Budget Award Program and the Houston Independent School District. Includes budget award criteria. (PKP)

Describes benefits of using zero-based budgeting to improve resource-allocation decisions linking costs to student performance. (PKP)

Briefly describes content of eSchool News Online, an Internet-based publication for school officials containing reviews of current events, news relevant to schools, searchable archives, funding sources, technology forums, a calendar, and online access to hardcopy publications and special reports. Web address is www.eschoolnews.org. (PKP)

Examines six habits that rob busy administrators of precious time: wishing for improvement, complaining, criticizing, procrastinating, making ineffective decisions, and failing to set goals. Advises readers to end ego-destructive self-criticism, anticipate and monitor progress, and use untapped forces of imagination to create a successful…

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)

In 1984 the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, created to solidify accounting principles for government entities, enumerated Generally Accepted Accounting Principles endorsed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the National Council on Governmental Accounting. These principles have recently been approved for school…

A study of school business officials and administrators in large school districts found general job satisfaction. School administrators derive more satisfaction from the work performed than from the work environment. (MD)

Changes in the insurance market combined with reduction in financial support make it an ideal time for educators to look at alternative approaches to purchasing insurance. The advantages and disadvantages of three approaches are analyzed. Net bidding is the most effective. (MD)

Despite a favorable nationwide evaluation of school nutrition programs, budget cuts have forced 3,000 schools to shut down their lunch programs. The American School Food Service Association has organized an effective campaign to forestall additional cuts and reestablish program support. (MLF)

A program produced by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory uses a combination of 8mm color-sound films and printed materials to train school food personnel. (MLF)

Stresses the need for administrators and teachers to be able to use computers as tools for the enrichment of their personal and professional lives. This requires experience and constant effort to stay in touch with the world of computers. (MLF)

Several suburban Chicago (Illinois) school districts are members of the South Suburban School Purchasing Cooperative, which serves as a conduit for volume purchases of educational supplies. (Author/MLF)