Describes how Geneva School District (New York) built a positive school-police relationship and developed a community intervention team, which includes the position of community intervention specialist. Describes the purpose, principles, structure, and composition of a threat-assessment team. Includes threat-assessment procedures, based on a…

Describes the development and operation of a countywide purchasing cooperative composed of ten local government agencies in Washington County, Wisconsin. (JG)

A strategic networking plan can mobilize the resources needed to accomplish the seemingly impossible. The key to successful networking is building of regular, long-term, sustainable relationships with the community, including governmental, charitable, and other organizations. Striving for educational excellence as a first priority has beneficial…

Recently, some school districts have established ties between their own and city/county transportation systems. This article examines outcomes of consolidated services in a sample of seven Michigan communities. Successful consolidation requires a policy champion, safety assurances, confidence and positive experiences, and resource capacity. (MLH)

The Pasadena (California) Independent School District developed a four-pronged approach for responding to campus emergencies and improving communication channels: establishing a chain of command, developing an onsite crisis team, converting the superintendent's office to a crisis command center, and assembling a district crisis-management team.…

Following a fire and a costly PCB cleanup at a Connecticut high school, the administrative staff learned valuable lessons. Districts must have an emergency management plan, provide accurate information, pursue alliances with media and agencies, issue daily press releases, develop a phone chain, and share the spotlight. (MLH)

Full-service schools are pushing traditional institutional boundaries by pioneering unique models of school, home, and community connections and serving as the hub for various cross- agency services. Diverse programs share several essential conditions: autonomy, leadership, effective governance structures, and a community emphasis. Three exemplary…

Despite thousands of public building closures in the last decade, many public agencies are renting privately owned space. Interagency use of public facilities is one response to this problem; however, to overcome legal, political, economic, and social barriers, agencies must learn to cooperate and communicate better. (MCG)

Unable to provide needed transportation for 1,000 high school students, a California school district cooperated with the county transit district to bus the students. The successful project included extra buses on existing routes, adjusted school hours, special bus stops at schools, and free student passes. (MCG)

Outlines the objectives and responsibilities of state and local education agencies and urges their cooperation so that children will receive adequate nutritional benefits and develop into productive citizens. (MLF)

A Wisconsin school district has implemented four pillars of school safety: a strong link with 911 responders, a comprehensive staff education and training program, recognition of staff intuition or early warning power, and the empowerment of students as partners via the Ribbon of Promise National Campaign to End School Violence. (MLH)

The province of Ontario has taken a lead in promoting the development of multiuse facilities. The advantages include the following: (1) saving labor and utilities costs; (2) maximizing programing; (3) improving quality and quantity of service; (4) guaranteeing nonpartisan access to public facilities; and (6) providing one-source shopping for…

The Goals 2000 Act focuses on local decisions to improve education. The challenge for school business administrators will be to meet the changes in the way schools and districts operate in the areas of linking social services, budgeting, and purchasing. Lists the eight goals of the act, along with the objectives for measuring achievement of each…

Using schools as a hub, full-service community schools bring together many partners to offer wide-ranging supports to community members every day. Community schools generally foster strong partnerships, share accountability for results, set high universal expectations, build on community strengths, embrace diversity, and avoid cookie-cutter…

By cooperating with other district staff, law enforcement, fire and rescue personnel, and social services, educators can prevail over school violence. First steps are developing a well-trained team, an effective crisis-response plan, and an alternative site to accommodate students. Guidelines and Web sites are provided. (MLH)