Today's schools are faced with a new challenge--namely, how they can be managed more effectively. This book evaluates concrete management plans such as Management By Objectives (MBO) and Zero-Base Budgeting and explains the principles that different systems work on, where they have been tried, how they have succeeded or not succeeded, and why.…

The role of the school board attorney is directly related to the role of the school administrator. Administrators must learn to use attorneys as sources of expertise and must continually have them on call to assure that problems are handled in a legally sound manner. It should be kept in mind, however, that attorneys are trained in the law and not…

Discusses the role of the president of the board of education. Emphasizes leadership functions, the need to balance community attitudes and expectations with state and Federal mandates, and the relationship between the board, the community, and the media. (FMW)

Data for this analysis of school district governance were gathered in lengthy interviews with 490 school board members and 82 school superintendents from a sample of 83 school districts. In addition, briefer interviews were conducted with 91 board members and 12 superintendents from districts in the 13 largest metropolitan areas. The study…

The question of who develops and adopts the rules and regulations to implement educational policies is at the center of the role controversy between boards of education and superintendents. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the demarcations between policy-making and administrative roles. Certain assumptions about board and superintendent…

Using a Decision Analysis Chart, the board and the superintendent determine which decisions are the superintendent's, which are the board's, and which are shared and to what degree. A similar determination of responsibilities is made between the central administration and the principals and within the schools. (IRT)

A school board member and a superintendent realized in their three years of working together in a Florida school district how crucial the board/superintendent relationship is to a smoothly running school district. Advises board members and superintendents to keep their roles straight and to work as a team. Offers guidelines to board presidents.…

Professionals who have worked with school leaders say conflict results from the board and superintendent stepping into each other's territory. They advise: beware the revolving door; keep your roles straight; redefine your concept of power; build trust; know where you're going; and know when to cut your losses. A sidebar lists resources. (MLF)

The materials in this manual are designed to help workshop leaders prepare for and present a workshop for school board members on the roles of the school board and the superintendent in a systematic cycle of policy management. The workshop identifies the specific mechanical steps that might be considered as a school board moves to identify, write,…

This paper, by the Superintendent of Schools in Kansas City, Kansas, addresses several broad issues in urban education. The social, economic, and educational environment in Kansas City, are outlined, and the composition of the Board of Education is described. Criticisms of typical Boards of Education are offered, and possible solutions for…

This booklet is intended to aid board members and administrators of independent American overseas schools in developing the policies and working relationships necessary for the effective operation of such schools. It mainly emphasizes the principles of boardsmanship and administration and presents guidelines for the development of policy and…

This study is based on the results of a background questionnaire and a perception inventory administered to a stratified random sample of Texas boards of education members in independent school districts having grades K-12. The study attempted to determine (1) the status of Texas school boards, (2) the role of the board and the roles of the…

In 1980, a joint committee of the National School Boards Association (NSBA) and the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) developed a publication for school boards and superintendents. The publication is being revised to reflect changes in education and society. Presents from the joint NSBA/AASA statement the responsibilities of…

A strong superintendent-board partnership is based on six elements: full disclosure, sufficient information, careful planning, informal interaction, periodic evaluation, and mutual support. (Published by California School Boards Association, 800 9th Street, Suite 201, Sacramento, California 95814) (Author)