The "baby" in the title of this paper refers to local school boards. The author suggests giving school boards more authority to exercise control over schools. In June of each year, the superintendent should present to the Board a report summarizing objective evidence on the achievements in learning of the pupils in the schools. Near the end of the…

The roles and responsibilities of school boards and superintendents are different, but linked. School boards are primarily concerned with establishing policy and representing the educational interests of district constituents. Superintendents are charged with translating policies into administrative practice and with providing professional…

This study examined whether school board members give highest priority to representing their constituencies or to voting their consciences. It also looked for correlations between demographic characteristics and the way school board members respond to constituent interests. Data were gathered by a questionnaire submitted to the population of 110…

Private school governing boards and their relationship with school heads are discussed in this booklet. Based on his experiences as a board member, the author counsels on the size of the board, selection of board members, length of membership, and board election. Specific advice is offered about the conduct of meetings. Other chapters outline the…

With their emphasis on due process, these model rules and policies can help schools safeguard the rights of students and ensure that schools are more certain of the facts when all other alternatives have failed and it is necessary to dismiss or expel a student. Local rules and policies based on this model should help to keep both the rights and…

The role of the school board member should not be confined to handling district finances and setting construction and purchasing policy--the "business" aspects of the educational system. The primary role of the school board is not to make the school system more efficient, but rather to make it more effective. To successfully fill this role, board…

School board members anticipating being sued for damages are advised to "keep cool, collected, quiet and inconspicuous." Publicly, a school board facing suit should employ an attorney for procedural matters, and announce intentions to fully investigate the problem. Privately, school board members must avoid making any statements that reflect bias,…

Ontario school systems face problems in trustee-professional staff relationships, establishing community involvement in school affairs, developing policies whereby maximum use is made of resources available, and in increasing public awareness of what schools are for and what they are doing. These problems are discussed, and an ideal system for…

In this speech, the author discusses the concept of the management team, and describes how it has been applied in Warren, Ohio, schools. The management team, according to the author, is a working relationship between the principal and central office administrators (including the superintendent and the board of education) to provide service to the…

This is the 19th in a continuing series of kit-booklets issued to help school boards develop written policies in key areas. The intent in providing samples is to encourage thinking in policy terms; and to provide working papers to be edited, modified or adapted to meet local requirements. The negotiation subtopics covered in the samples include…

This paper shares the author's thoughts on the required New York State Regents examinations: namely, that the exams, now an integral part of social studies courses, are in some ways a real deterrent to relevant learning. Recommendations were made by the House of Delegates of the New York State Council for the Social Studies (the state-wide…

This booklet is one of a series of reports addressing the most critical issues confronting state boards of education throughout the United States. Each report attempts to present a concise, informative review and analysis of the best and most current information available on one of these critical topics. This booklet focuses on ways to increase…

A school board can take a critical look at itself by using this checklist. (Available from Educational Communication Center, P.O. Box 657, Camp Hill, PA 17011; $12.00 annually.) (Author)

Offers superintendents several tips for establishing sound relationships with their school boards, including clarifying roles, understanding the political and professional nature of the superintendency, avoiding close identification with specific board members, educating board members, avoiding provincialism, cultivating good administrative staff…

Describes Metropolitan Nashville (Tennesseee) Board of Education's creation of a strategic plan to establish specific standards for academic performance and participation in school activities. By committing to quantitatively based goals to achieve a centain level of improvement, the board has put the entire school community on notice and has set…