To prevent policy-making from being fragmented into a series of ad hoc and disjointed decisions, it is important to be as clear as possible about the policy-making framework within which decision-making is to operate. School boards that aspire toward enhancing their policy-making function are here provided with a basic structure for policy-making.…

The reason teachers want collective bargaining is far simpler than has heretofore been recognized by scholars. In de jure collective bargaining, agreements arrived at in the bargaining process are legal and binding on both parties. In de facto negotiation, agreements could be struck between the teachers and the board of education, but, when…

While primarily discussing the relationship between school boards and superintendents, the speaker makes four main points. First, the professional administration that runs our schools, led by superintendents and their management teams, is in the best position--perhaps the only position--to implement improvements in education. Second, school boards…

This report provides school district policy samples and other resources on teacher evaluation. The intent in providing policy samples is to encourage thinking in policy terms and to provide working papers that can be edited, modified, or adapted to meet local requirements. Note is made of the fact that, when school boards evaluate teachers, they…

A strong superintendent and a strong board and an informed citizenry are the elements for education that can make the difference for our youngsters. (Author/IRT)

Public schools have traditionally accepted the new teacher as a finished product and ignored an inherent responsibility for teacher training. The time has come for public schools to accept, perhaps even demand, a greater share of the responsibility for teacher training. (Author)

Points out the need for a board policy on reduction in force and explains the four basic policy questions to be addressed in creating the policy and six traps to be avoided. (IRT)

A school board expects its secretary-treasurer to be a senior staff member responsible for historical and financial recordkeeping and also to be a purchasing expert and a public relations officer. (MLF)

The suit claimed violation of First and Fourteenth Amendment rights in that the school board, disregarding the recommendation of faculty, refused to approve Joseph Heller's "Catch 22" and Kurt Vonnegut's "God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater" as texts or library books. (Author)

Outlines 10 ways school boards harm themselves. (IRT)

New school board members need crash courses in boardmanship and basic educational principles. Such a move cannot help enhance their credibility rating with taxpayers, as well as lay the foundation for a new two-way relationship between administrators and policymakers. (Author/WM)

A series of four articles dealing with censorship and the book banning policy. Discusses recent cases and controversies. (JF)