A survey of hospital emergency rooms revealed that nearly half of all playground falls resulted in head injuries. Playground surfaces should be evaluated for "Surface Impact Performance" and the "Severity Index"--both measures to determine ability to absorb impact. Nine other playground hazards are illustrated and described.…

Addresses the question of effect on college and universities that coming revolution in retention strategies will have. Points out that more colleges will be requiring validation of intellectual accomplishment before, during, and at the end of the college career. (Author/ABB)

Presents a 14-step process for school business officers to follow when implementing microcomputer systems into the central office. (MD)

Leasing closed schools provides a viable alternative to their disposal. Suggestions from a school business administrator are intended to sensitize other administrators to some common areas of difficulty in the real estate world. (MLF)

"Education officials need to furnish leadership in school elections.... An unsuccessful election reduces educational opportunities for students" (Kimbrough and Nunnery, 1971, p. 4). Who can argue with this simple statement? Providing effective leadership, however, is not that easy. Research and practice have yet to yield an election formula that…

The Philadelphia School District has a five-step program of site-based-management prerequisites for schools: (1) absolute support from the top administration; (2) clear and fair allocation formulas on which each school's budget is to be based; (3) universal understanding of any restrictions, rules, or guidelines; (4) full explanation of budget…

Unlike most school-security strategies, search and seizure procedures can be largely determined by studying landmark court cases. The U.S. Supreme Court set standards for conducting school searches in "New Jersey v. T.L.O." (1985) and for drug testing student athletes in "Vernonia School District v. Acton" (1995). School…

If appropriate planning occurs, business officials can support site-based management. Districts need to develop new working relationships that appropriately balance the responsibility of the business office for district finances and support services with more site-based management at the school level. (MLF)

Because it uses real-life situations, problems, or incidents, the case study method is well suited to training school business officials. Case studies can help these administrators deal with complex relationships involving board members, school staff, and parents. A sample case problem involving budget overexpenditure is provided. Includes three…

The school business official can be a valuable source to the press. Provides guidelines to help the press become an asset to school districts. (MLF)

Effective school public relations is an investment in the school system that takes time, planning, and teamwork. Public relations should be an ongoing process using simple language and a targeted approach. Guidelines are presented. (MLF)

At the 1994 annual meeting of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), presentations and discussions indicated that college business officers are responding to their institutions' financial difficulties with innovative ways to reorganize, save money, and generate revenue. (Author/MSE)

Briefly describes six of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards applicable to school districts. Provides a suggested approach for compliance and discusses how one district has begun to meet the challenge. The mandated OSHA programs concern the following: (1) hazard communication; (2) chemical hygiene; (3) bloodborne…

College business officers whose institutions are not connected to the Internet can gain affordable access as individuals. Lists of Free-Net and community network systems in most states and of Internet and on-line service providers are offered. Additional sources of accounts are noted. Common Internet terms are also defined. (MSE)

Discusses colleges' use of popular financial reporting to make their annual financial reports more readable to citizens and legislators and to make their reports useful marketing and recruitment tools. Highlights research about financial reports and performance reporting conducted by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. Describes the…