In anticipation of a shortage of qualified, experienced administrators, school districts could (1) evaluate their employee demographics; (2) review benefits provided to administrators and consider developing a new package of benefits; (3) ask administrators to identify previously undefined benefits; and (4) identify and provide a career track for…

Chief school business officials are retiring at an unprecedented rate. Board members should analyze the reasons why a business manager left and correct any circumstances that hampered job performance. Lists skills and salary range for the position. (MLF)

School districts are being asked to provide expanded variety and quality of educational services with fewer tax dollars. Discusses the search for accountability, productivity, quality, and equity in education and alerts school business officials to the problems and conflicts inherent in such a search. (MLF)

In addition to legislative accessibility requirements, other security issues facing school administrators who select a security system include the following: access control; user friendliness; durability or serviceability; life safety precautions; possibility of vandalism, theft, and tampering; and key control. Offers steps to take in considering…

An alternative approach to the traditional methods of professional growth is the development of a "reflective practice." The learning process in reflective practice begins with the examination of an individual's own actions and contrasting the actions to the ideal or intent of the practice. The process results in behavioral changes that…

A study at Texas A&M University investigated the role of the academic business administrator in fulfilling the institution's educational mission. A program of continuing administrator training was then implemented. Ten years later, another study examined the roles of senior academic business administrators in each of the university's colleges.…

Presents a six-part facilities-management strategy to assess the condition of facilities to develop realistic budgets for operations, maintenance, code and access upgrades, and capacity expansion. (MLF)

School districts offer teacher early retirement incentive plans (TERIPs) as an opportunity to hire less expensive teachers, reduce fringe benefits costs, and eliminate teaching positions. Discusses reasons for teachers to accept TERIP, and describes a computer model that allows school officials to calculate and compare costs incurred if an…

Addresses some of the tools and methods available to the business administrator as well as some of the obstacles present in communicating financial information. (MLF)

Numerous studies have reported the deteriorating conditions in school buildings. One of the primary causes of this national problem is lack of proper maintenance of school facilities. Outlines a comprehensive assessment and planning process to provide a district with a road map for making decisions about facility improvement. (MLF)

The 12 biggest pitfalls in technology administration are school officials' failure to plan, structure a decision-making process, define roles and responsibilities, understand technical requirements, acquire and maintain technology systems properly, provide adequate staff, consider alternative service delivery options, manage projects effectively,…

Generally, support employees can be discharged only for statutorily created reasons, including incompetence, insubordination, immorality, and "good cause." School officials must know employees' rights under due-process and collective-bargaining rules and use objective evaluation criteria to avoid litigation and remedies for wrongful…

Offers tips to school business managers who select the district's negotiator or who are members of the committee that selects the negotiator. Outlines the factual data that should be prepared for a negotiator when bargaining begins. (MLF)

Lists a variety of possible ethical incidents that may confront a school business manager. Proposes that ethics be given adequate treatment in preservice programs, that all educators be made more aware of ethics, and that members of the profession be trained and encouraged to police their fellow members. (MLF)

Updates the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) statements, which pronounce upon and provide guidance in accounting and financial reporting for state and local governmental entities. Describes the development of GASB's governmental finance-reporting model project and identifies five components of internal control. One figure and two…