The issue of school safety is of paramount concern but what is lacking is clarity on the best course of action aimed at bolstering safety in public schools. We sought to answer the following research questions: What topics are addressed in school board policies related to arming employees? What outlying policy topics are addressed in school board…

After attempting to reach full implementation of healthy and functioning Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 behavioral systems at its elementary schools through years of training and coaching, Springfield Public Schools (SPS) found it necessary to strategically invest district resources in its PBIS efforts by targeting Tier 2 and initial Tier 3 systems…

The increasing need for highly-skilled employees in the workplace has policymakers and higher education leaders focused on innovative ways for students to access postsecondary education. These access points can include online programs, prior learning assessments and, the subject of this snapshot, competency-based education. The National Center for…

Minority students and students with disabilities are disciplined disproportionately from their peers. Discipline has led to many negative consequences in the lives of youth in the United States, including the school-to-prison pipeline. In 2014, the U.S. Department of Education issued guidance encouraging school districts to develop policies that…

The materials contained in this school board calendar are intended to help local boards take the appropriate actions required by the state of Oregon at the appropriate times. Many of these board actions involve budget preparation and approval, collective bargaining, and personnel procedures. The calendar suggests activities based on the timeline…

This paper attempts to examine the school board's role in superintendent evaluation. It begins by quoting several articles on the subject of superintendent evaluation and the superintendent-board relationship. The author recommends four simple questions to ask when formulating and completing an evaluation procedure: What do we want the…

This document is a brief discussion, in outline form, regarding the legal representation of the school board and the superintendent. Specifically, the school lawyer ordinarily represents the board rather than an individual employee such as the district superintendent. Exceptions to this rule, conflicts of interest, and disclosure matters are…

This publication contains the suggested policies for athletics that were approved by the Oregon State Board of Education in September 1975. The policies represent the essentials for organizing and administering athletic programs in Oregon schools. The first section presents principles and policies for physical education, intramurals, and…

Examines the use of final-offer arbitration in public sector collective bargaining in five states. (PKP)

As a result of declining enrollment and resources, a school closure task force was appointed in February 1981 by the 4J School District in Eugene (Oregon). Because the 4J Board of Directors had determined that the enrollment in several schools had become too small to maintain both efficiency and district standards, the task force was directed to…

This study attempts to understand educational priorities through an investigation of budget choices made by 46 Oregon school districts. Two-thirds of the sample districts did not experience stringent fiscal constraint; the remainder showed budget allocation patterns favoring instruction at the expense of administrative and other areas. Includes 20…

A decision model is presented for use in connection with data that are currently available in State departments of education to determine economies of scale for a State system of public school districts. An application of the model to the State of Oregon illustrates how economies of scale information for a State system can be used by policymakers…

School boards of small Oregon school districts must prepare and adopt policies, regulations, and rules to meet the basic requirements of state statutes and regulations. The suggested policies deal only with a minimum number of issues that come before the school board and for which it is responsible. Seven policies and rules are provided: (1)…

These guidelines from the Oregon Department of Education are based on the rationale that all students should be afforded equal opportunities to access guidance and counseling programs. The materials deal with educational, career, and personal development for elementary and secondary school students. The purpose of these guidelines is to assist…

This document is one in a series of publications designed to assist local school districts in the management of their personnel procedures. This document provides assistance to districts by providing guidelines for staff development and retraining. Discussed in the publication are (1) the need for retraining; (2) retraining policy (federal and…