Many districts continue to face budget challenges of historic proportions. Decisions made in the coming months will carry significant repercussions for years to come. The path of least resistance is to slash budgets in ways that erode schooling. In this scenario, important reforms are left behind, overall services are diminished, innovations are…

How much were school business officials being paid during the 2009-2010 school year? How do their salaries compare with those of other administrators, with those of classroom teachers, and with increases in the cost of living? In this article, the authors provide school business officials with information to address these and related questions.…

How much were school business officials being paid during the 2008-09 school year? How do their salaries compare with those of other administrators, with those of classroom teachers, and with increases in the cost of living? In this article, the authors provide school business officials with information to address these and related questions. The…

A salary-schedule compression is the process of reducing the number of salary schedule steps while still giving annual salary increases. Explains what school districts can do during negotiations to compress a schedule without awarding greater increases than originally intended. A sidebar shows a table for relating years of teaching experience to…

Compares salaries and fringe benefits of school business officials with salaries paid other administrators and classroom teachers. Data were drawn from a stratified sample of school systems that varied by size, region, and per pupil expenditure. (MLF)

Districtwide administrators representing nine school districts with successful merit pay/teacher incentive programs all agree that the plans are feasible. The majority believe districtwide rather than statewide plans are preferable. (MLF)

For the past 9 years, a study conducted by the Educational Research Service has provided a consistent and reliable means for comparing local school budgets throughout the nation. Three figures and 2 tables provide summary data. The last table shows an analysis with 48 separate budget categories that administrators can use to compare their budgets.…

If future contracts with school district professional personnel can incorporate salary and compensation equity and evaluation systems that are fair, then the issues of accountability and value for the taxpayers will be favorably settled. (MLF)

Identifies federal reporting obligations that govern school districts' human resources management in the following areas: (1) Internal Revenue Service filing requirements; (2) Fair Labor Standards Act recordkeeping; (3) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reporting; and (4) Family and Medical Leave Act recordkeeping. (MLF)

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938 covers six major topics: minimum wage, overtime, child labor, equal pay, retaliation, and record keeping. Most cases filed against school districts involve overtime and record-keeping requirements. Outlines steps to ensure district FLSA policies are legal, communicated, and enforced. (MLF)

Since 1980, Educational Research Service has conducted extensive surveys of school district revenues and expenditures. National and regional revenues are displayed in three figures and two tables. For comparative purposes, a table of 48 separate budget categories with per pupil expenditure and percent of current expenditures is provided. (MLF)

The Nebraska legislature created the Commission of Industrial Relations to resolve labor disputes between governmental agencies and their employees. Refinement of the commission's practices has led to the basic premise of comparability--teachers who perform similar work in similar size school districts should receive similar compensation and…

Survey responses from 271 members of the Association of School Business Officials International were analyzed to determine the extent and use of internal auditing in school districts and the characteristics of districts with internal auditing positions. (MLF)

Summarizes the steps and strategies taken to produce a comprehensive multiyear budget that functions as a financial forecast. Discusses the key concepts and components of an effective plan as well as the presentation and implementation of the plan. (seven figures) (MLF)