A national survey of school board members helps explode myths about the divided school board. Dissent is a basic component of the decision-making process in a democracy. (Author/IRT)

School boards and labor unions can benefit from a shared-revenue model. Labor costs would be contractually tied to available revenue, rather than to fixed expenses. Labor would have greater fiscal authority than under traditional collective bargaining and a real incentive to manage its own fiscal resources, since it could keep what it saved. An…

Describes the superintendent's role in training members of the school board to lead. (PKP)

Reports the results of Kaiser Family Foundation study that finds large majority of parents surveyed want schools to teach sex education that includes information on abstinence, contraception, and sexually transmitted diseases. Includes examples of the sex-education curriculum in several school districts. Provides suggests for helping school boards…

Education Commission of the States nationwide survey of school board presidents concludes that crisis in the superintendency does not exist. Findings do suggest, however, that some districts have a history of "churning" superintendents, which contributes disproportionately to these districts having high turnover rates and a relatively small number…

Reports results of random survey of principals in 105 Iowa elementary schools about playground supervision practices. Recommends that school boards take a leadership role in creating safe playgrounds by requiring all elementary schools to have at least two supervisors with safety training on the playground at all times. (PKP)

Describes the takeover of urban districts by city majors. Profiles the cities of Cleveland, Washington, D.C., New York, and Chicago. Also describes partnership between Chelsea (Massachusetts) Public Schools and Boston University and state takeover of California's Compton Unified School District. Includes list of districts with more than 100,000…

Argues for a more effective relationship between state boards of education and state legislatures. Includes brief history of board-legislature relations in Pennsylvania and suggests ways to improve that relationship in light of standards-based school-reform efforts. (PKP)

In 1937, William George Bruce, then 81, published his memoirs. An excerpt from a chapter in that book deals with the events surrounding the founding of "The American School Board Journal." (MLF)

When chief participants have failed to prepare adequately for negotiations, the resulting contract can be costly to the district. This article describes preparation procedures, such as developing the time table; designating the negotiations team; clarifying board role; reviewing the current contract, grievance cases, and recent legislation; and…

In a single evening workshop for school board members, teams of participants are given the facts of a situation previously confronted by a real school board and challenged to come up with a solution. After discussion, the real-life solution is revealed and compared to plans developed by the teams. (MLF)

In 1992 the Supreme Court ruled that school victims of sexual harassment may collect damages. In response to a brief survey, many state superintendents indicated they had strengthened school sexual harassment policies; however, many others indicated they had neither made nor planned any changes. Includes recommendations for developing or…

Tipsy board members and administrators lose on two levels; they forgo the confidence of those above them and give power to the next person eager to seize their office. Executives are advised to keep apprised of others' blunders. A colleague who has fallen into the fireplace at the district's Christmas party lessens competition for the next…

Examination of arbitration decisions in Wisconsin teacher wage disputes, 1977-86, found that wage increases agreed to earlier by comparable school districts had a substantial impact on the arbitrators' decisions. (SK)

Describes service-learning programs in three schools: Sullivan Elementary School in North Adams, Massachusetts; Turner Middle School in southwest Philadelphia; and Miami High School in Oklahoma. Identifies common elements in the three programs. Describes what school boards can do to support service-learning programs in their districts. (PKP)