Asserts that although employees are bringing legal cases across the spectrum of discriminatory behaviors, lawyers who advise higher education see two particular areas of concern right now: age discrimination and retaliation against complaints. Discusses what business officers need to understand in order to prevent nightmare legal problems. (EV)

In Eastern Maryland, school managers take on a variety of administrative tasks so principals can focus on education. It is a common complaint--about 70 percent of principals responding to a 2001 National Association of Secondary School Principals survey cited time constraints and paperwork as impediments to doing their jobs. While many districts…

This booklet provides guidelines to help school business officials develop sound procedures for keeping proper accounts of and managing the money raised and spent in the course of conducting student activity programs. The booklet notes the roles of the administrators and activity advisers related to management of the student activity fund, then…

A survey takes an indepth look at the school business official. Questionnaires were sent to 5,200 school business officials throughout the U.S. (Author)

To obtain software suitable for school personnel systems, school business officials should consider forming cooperative groups to develop software and should also encourage entrepreneurs to custom-design products. (MLF)

School business partnerships can help school districts meet financial challenges and public demands for reform. To succeed, both parties must feel that they are benefiting from the relationship. Possible political collaboration and corporate donations are among the benefits for schools. (MLF)

Based on analysis of responses of business managers, superintendents, school board members, principals, and supervisors to the Leadership Behavior Description Questionnaire, the successful school business manager would exhibit high initiating structure and consideration when working with principals and supervisors in the school organization. (SB)

There are no quick fixes to any problems that school systems face. The best solution lies in building a common approach to solving problems utilizing an established procedure; an interactive process; and a trained team of administrators, teachers, and nonteaching staff members. (MLF)

Education Research Service 2002-2003 salary survey compares salaries of school business officials with those of other administrators and teachers. Salaries school business officials receive are influenced by three factors: Geographic region, enrollment size, and per-pupil spending. (Contains 11 tables.) (PKP)

Leading-edge purchasing managers, consultants, and futurists explain the importance of organizational structure, skill sets, technology, supplier relationships, and other crucial areas to their professions. Most predict the need for broad-based knowledge and a growing emphasis on horizontal organizational structures, customer/supplier…

Suggests school business officials, particularly those directly responsible for facilities, should know about school security measures such as metal detection devices at entry points, direct classroom telephone access, strategically placed mirrors, corridor video monitors, modified food-service facilities and bathrooms, stair and courtyard…

Proposes several key questions that school district business officials should answer to prepare for an annual financial audit involving auditor information and resource needs, district and auditor monitoring and reporting on the audit progress, and reporting the results of the audit to the board of education. (PKP)

Describes one model for structuring business affairs within academic administration, the senior academic business administrator (SABA), used at Texas A and M University. Discusses the path to the position, staffing, functional and professional challenges, professional development, and trends in the field. Also describes the author's personal…

Asserts that the complexity of interrelated energy management factors means that business officers have to be more closely involved in assessing and communicating the effects of energy on campus maintenance and operations and utility budgets. Discusses identifying appropriate energy initiatives, developing realistic utility infrastructure plans…

A sample of school business leaders was surveyed to document their experiences with and opinions about the Certificate for Excellence in Financial Reporting. Analyzes responses from 90 participating districts and 80 nonparticipating districts from a total of 36 states. (MLF))