Updates the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act in light of two Supreme Court decisions in 2002: "Owasso Independent School District v. Falvo" and "Gonzaga University v. Doe." Suggests implications for school board policies on student records. (PKP)

After briefly describing the educational advantages of wireless networks using mobile computers, discusses the technical, operational, financial aspects of wireless local area networks (WLAN). Provides examples of school facilities designed for the use of WLAN. Includes a glossary of WLAN-related terms. (Contains 12 references.)

Although chemical-intensive pest control methods have proven reasonably effective, a growing awareness of health and environmental risks associated with pesticides has sharpened public interest in safer alternatives. An integrated pest management approach reduces risks from pests while minimizing human exposure and reducing the toxicity of applied…

Identifies the major activities involved in collective bargaining and defines the differences between collaborative, win/win bargaining and adversarial bargaining. Key elements of collaborative bargaining include trust-building, respect, clear and continuous communications, avoidance of "one upmanship" games, mutual problem-solving…

Discusses the requirements of a typical bidding statute and explores the ramifications of the U.S. Supreme Court's "City of Richmond v. Crosan Company" decision for minority business (MBE) set-aside programs. School districts with MBE set-aside plans should determine whether these plans are constitutionally sufficient before beginning a…

The "1994 Directory of Architectural Firms in Schoolhouse Design" lists more than 50 architectural firms, many of which have dozens of completed school buildings to their credit. The general listing contains information about the firm, its design philosophy, the areas the firm serves, its services, and how much of its work is with schools. (Author)

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,…

In light of increasing accountability demands and intense scrutiny of public education, this article highlights five key strategies for negotiating with teacher unions: display willingness to do things differently, work together, meet informally, initiate intense inservice training, and view the negotiated agreement as a flexible, living document.…

In a November 1998 "Forbes Magazine" article, Peter Brimelow claims that seven states, including Indiana, employ a greater percentage of "nonteaching bureaucracy" than classroom teachers. Using National Center for Education Statistics school staffing definitions, this article paints a different picture and decries the folly of…

Based on a survey of Association of School Business Officials members, this article focuses on 10 accounting system modules and how respondents felt about their system's operation and integration. Results showed solid continuity among general ledger, accounts payable, and payroll modules and discontinuities among fixed-asset and student accounting…

The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) recently crafted a new dual-perspective financial reporting model. In their tentative conclusions concerning model elements, the board started with the new management's discussion and analysis (MD&A) letter, continued with the new entrywide statements, and then moved to the more familiar…

Describes four ways school business officials achieve success with collective bargaining: Maintaining relationships, separating the relationship from the problem, building credibility and cooperation, and "futuring." (PKP)

Uses Thanksgiving dinner metaphor to introduce discussion of ways to improve the negotiation process. (PKP)

Advocates the use of an Interdisciplinary Plan Review (IPR)--construction plan scrutiny by an independent agency--to contain district school construction costs. (PKP)

Describes the bond-rating process; suggests several management practices school districts can adopt to improve their bond ratings: Adopt a fund balance, initiate debt-affordability and debt-amortization policies, institute pay-as-you-go funding to reduce dependency on debt, develop a multiyear plan, and communicate periodically with credit-rating…