School board service can have detrimental effects on members' personal lives. The most frequent and pervasive problems faced by board members are lack of time, loneliness, stress, alienation from community life, abuse, and fatigue. Problem-solving tips are offered. (Author/MLF)

Describes the circumstances that prompted the state commissioner of education to appoint a "monitor general" to supervise the actions of the Trenton school board. (IRT)

Describes a weekend conference that brought together board members, central office administrators, and building-level administrators to examine the self-images of these people and how such images conflicted or were congruent with expectations and desires held by others. (Author/IRT)

Some suggestions on how a college development officer can relate to the president and to trustees are provided: getting the endorsement of top trustees, serving the president first, understanding how policy is made and implemented, knowing trustees personally, involving trustees in development planning, and backing institutional policy. (MLW)

A clear pattern of sex assignment by occupational level exists in the educational establishment and probably will not change as long as women refrain from the kind of political activity that would gain them seats on policy-making school boards in numbers exceeding that of men. (MB)

A ratio comparing the number of administrators in central offices with those outside central offices was used nationwide in 1988 to assess decentralization in large school districts. Sixteen of 62 districts were decentralized. The same survey in 1980 revealed 39 of 65 districts were decentralized. Decentralization is decreasing as an…

In 1980, a joint committee of the National School Boards Association (NSBA) and the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) developed a publication for school boards and superintendents. The publication is being revised to reflect changes in education and society. Presents from the joint NSBA/AASA statement the responsibilities of…

After 15 years as president of Miami-Dade Community College, marked by honors and accolades, Robert H. McCabe is retiring after continuing disputes with trustees. The problems' beginning coincided with appointment of three minority governing board members, who encouraged faculty critical of the president to be more vocal. McCabe also points to…

The challenge for the college governing board is to use the assets of the institution's known past as a foundation for planning for the largely unknown future. They must handle the difficult tasks of replacing a president, responding to legitimate new demands, and avoiding institutional stagnation. (MSE)

Discusses the nature of the school council in the Soviet Union during Perestroika. Suggests that the councils have yet to find their place in the social and political changes of democratization. Attributes the low effectiveness of the school councils to student and parent passivity. (DK)

If trustees tried to abolish tenure, the resulting conflict would overwhelm intended gains. A more productive approach is to examine how trustees can work with administrators and faculty to make tenure policies and practices work for the institution. The governing board's role differs from that of faculty and administration. (Author/MSE)

College governing boards can help improve productivity by (1) refining the institution's mission to appropriately balance research and teaching in the faculty workload, and (2) establishing a collaborative strategic planning agenda with faculty and campus leaders. Results will benefit taxpayers, parents, and students alike. (MSE)

The rapid turnover in urban superintendencies reflects changes in big-city school boards that are increasingly characterized as political rather than as public service positions. In addition, the expectation that urban superintendents should find solutions for complex issues and the urban boards' desire for a person of color have resulted in fewer…

To attract the best available superintendent candidates boards should (1) sell the advantages of the district; (2) define expectations early; (3) spell out working relationships; (4) develop compensation guidelines early; (5) consider developing leaders and alternative prospects; (6) maintain strict confidentiality; and (7) make the final…

Although Superintendent Frank Petruzielo arrived with briefcase full of plans to change Houston (Texas) school district, he spent his first year reworking his ideas in consultation with district teachers and administrators. He ignored school budget brokering that had occurred between previous school boards and business establishment, won 32%…