Those who spent time in the classroom recognize the need to formulate well-designed lesson plans before they can provide a first-rate education. A lesson plan provides guidance on what they will be teaching, the tools they will need to teach a lesson, and their expectations for the outcomes of the lesson--what kids will learn. The same is true for…

To navigate today's fiscal challenges successfully, school districts must constantly examine the long-term fiscal implications of policy, programmatic, and human resource decisions on their organization. They must look at the effect of such items as bargaining agreements, contracted services, placement costs, transportation costs, benefits,…

Given a choice, most administrators, staff, and students would probably choose food from home over the school offerings. What about those without a choice? Students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunch are stuck with school lunches, which are sometimes the most balanced meal they'll get that day. Many others opt for school lunches out of…

The deterioration of public school buildings is more prevalent in large cities that, because of funding shortfalls, have deferred maintenance and require huge sums to bring their buildings up to acceptable standards. Cities such as New York will require approximately $680 million to address the problem of deferred maintenance for needed painting,…

Strategic planning is a long-term planning process that allows school leaders to decide where they want to go and how they intend to get there. The procedure is outlined graphically, and a hypothetical example illustrates the steps of the process. (MLF)

Outlines (1) the changes that have occurred in school food service since the National School Lunch Act of 1946, (2) the choices in foods served and in new markets, and (3) an action plan for the challenges facing school food service professionals. (MLF)

Describes strategies to meet the increasing demands for technological innovation in the face of increasingly severe budgetary constraints. Long-term planning is the key to a successful technological program. Describes the options of leasing, financing, and phased-in purchases. (LMI)

Financial planning is the key to providing a high-quality instructional plan. A 5-year financial plan is typically updated by looking at district financial history, future instructional plans, staffing requirements, and revenue projections. Planning assumptions must be clearly understood by the financial team and the community. (MLH)

Although changes in instructional technology and population growth are the usual reasons school districts approach master planning as a tool for identifying and managing these changes, environmental concerns (like asbestos abatement and radon identification) play a role. A dozen tips for developing a master plan are provided. (MLH)

Among the 10 megatrends that will affect school food service in the future are population changes; computerized and automated kitchens; cost increases; school districts contracting to serve other community groups; fewer federal government controls; and higher teacher salaries, forcing changes in how students are taught. (MLF)

Discusses the characteristics, development, and applications of the North Clackamas (OR) School District's long-range financial planning model, which is operated through an electronic spreadsheet. Two tables show sample outputs. (MCG)

Provides school administrators with three managerial aids to assist in creating an organizational vision: (1) an operating definition of the vision concept; (2) a planning framework to support vision creation and implementation; and (3) a specific method for leading school organizations through the visioning process. (MLF)

Knowledgeable recycling of existing educational facilities requires an assessment of educational needs, evaluation of available facilities, and determination of the historical significance of structures being considered for renovation. (MLF)

The multiyear forecasting model is a device to focus on the input side of the educational process--staff, materials, facilities, and services. An annual budget can be developed from the multiyear work plan, with specific policy statements being made to achieve the outcomes initially determined to be the goals and objectives of the district. (MLF)

Enrollment planning is the basis of all school system planning. Focuses on assessing the impact of a choice plan on student enrollment planning. Issues involved include home schooling, school employees' choice, and private kindergarten programs. Administrators are advised to evaluate existing forecasting methodologies. (MLF)