Ostensibly, state governing and coordinating boards have been established to reduce unwarranted duplication of effort and costly competition and to increase overall efficiency of higher education operations. As this study shows, there is some indication that these objectives have been achieved, but additional research is needed to develop clear…

Instead of cutting art, music, or physical education, the usual victims of budgetary shortfalls, the principal and staff of a New Hampshire elementary school balanced their 1981 budget by adopting a "temporary" Monday-Thursday schedule that remains operational today. The four-day week has brought a dramatic drop in teacher absenteeism…

Discusses potential applications of computer technology to enhance participatory democracy and considers the effects of advances in computer technology, including increased power and decreased costs, on political and community activists. Constraints are described, including international inequity and the commercialization of government data; and…

School leaders in four communities describe some approaches they are using to reduce school district spending or generate new revenues. Suggestions include finding alternative revenue sources; pursuing "pro bono" or in-kind services; adopting zero-base, programmatic budgeting; reducing support and custodial staff ratios; and applying technological…

Notes that retrenchment has become part of institutional life for many college and university administrators. Highlights excerpts from relevant literature and presents series of recommendations for use by college and university administrators in mitigating negative effects of budget retrenchment. Concludes that thoughtful preparation for impending…

Introduces the alarm system planning process and provides examples of approaches that have worked for school districts. Explains system elements, monitoring, the bidding process, and the importance of staff training. (MLF)

Standardized bus schedules allow a more efficient use of buses and drivers. Cites experiences of districts using the four-bell schedule where high schools open first, followed by middle schools, and then elementary schools with two opening times. A computer routing system can be used to route buses more efficiently and draw school attendance…

Explains how a school's use of compact fluorescents can reduce operating costs and maintain performance. Indicates that energy cost savings can repay the initial costs of buying incandescent bulbs in as short as 12 months with continuing savings thereafter. Tips for avoiding costly mistakes in lighting retrofits are highlighted. (GR)

Analysis of United Kingdom Labor Force Survey data identified inadequacies and ambiguities that change prevailing interpretations. Policy development could benefit from improvements in collection and interpretation of data on training, as well as from more research on its costs and benefits. (SK)

Discussion of using document-management software to locate, acquire, and process articles for storage in an academic scholar's personal collection focuses on a study that examined the feasibility of using either DB/TextWorks or PageKeeper. Results favor PageKeeper due to a lower cost, ease of use, and other features. (Author/LRW)

School districts across the country are putting an emphasis on education and an end to wasted resources by becoming energy efficient. Lists tips to improve schools' energy use and lists some federal, state, and nonprofit programs available to help schools improve their energy management. (MLF)

Examines recruitment and examination performance of 327 British grant-maintained schools from 1991 to 1996, compared to 108 local education authority schools. The GM schools' apparently higher performance may be attributed to having fewer socially disadvantaged students and reducing this proportion over time. Implications are discussed. Contains…

Studied variation in physicians' practice styles and policies through a survey of 46 family physicians and internists. Overall, the results indicate that a brief open-ended survey can assess practice variations quickly, providing a basis to guide interventions. (SLD)

Addresses research issues related to the economics of electronic, Internet-based markets. Discusses consumer cost-based differences for traditional and electronic markets; revenue implications for sellers and transaction intermediaries; and results of an empirical, survey-based study of an electronic market in the sports trading-card industry.…

One way colleges can approach cost control is by taking advantages of cooperative purchasing activities with other, similar institutions. Guiding principles for effective efforts include sharing the risk, sharing the resources, providing services to other institutions, and expanding institutional bargaining power through cooperation. Significant…