Theoretically, the relationship between boards of education and school administrators is well-defined -- the board makes policies, and the superintendent implements those policies. However, the lines of responsibility are not that clear-cut, leading to a variety of problems involving school boards and administrators. In examining documents dealing…

In this booklet the author offers advice on how newly decentralized professional associations may render cooperative assistance at State, local, and national levels. The author argues that if these new groups are to succeed, they must be structured to endure the stresses of (1) possessing the machinery to resolve conflicts that arise between…

School boards cannot account to the public unless they measure and assess the performance of school administrators and teachers. From the board's viewpoint, accountability (and therefore evaluation) must concentrate on the school superintendent. This evaluation must be carried out in an atmosphere of commitment and mutual trust, the procedures and…

Considers the transformed societal environment within which educational policy making occurs, the selection to and composition of the school board, and the school-board administrator relationship. (Author/RK)

This article discusses the plight of the elementary school principal caught between pressures from teachers on one hand and superintendents and boards of education on the other. (JD)

The Illinois Board of Rengents had to overcome institutional inertia on its three campuses to prepare for future financial exigency. A discussion paper served as an effective instrument and led to development of a consensus plan. (Editor/LBH)

Highlights of the survey by the Higher Education Panel of the American Council on Education of the makeup of governing boards and profile of governing board members are presented. Findings are correlated by institutional size and type. (LBH)

The AGB Board-Mentor Service provides member boards with on-campus workshops to assess their organization and performance. The basic role is to serve as a catalyst to engage boards in discussions of the results of a self-study and matters of special concern. Names of the 32 board-mentors are listed. (LBH)

Governing boards in search of a college president often look for the wrong kinds of qualifications, such as an earned doctorate, scholarship, and significant administrative experience in higher education. Presidents should be hired for their mental capacities, stamina, and the desire for spiritual rewards. (MSE)

A list of trustee responsibilities, as adapted from a private college's trustee handbook, includes suggestions for active involvement in decision making, self-education about the institution and issues, and participation in meetings. (MSE)

Provides basic guidelines which school officials and school boards may find helpful in negotiating, establishing, and managing objectives. Discusses characteristics of good objectives, specific and directional objectives, multiple objectives, participation in setting objectives, feedback on goal process and achievement, and managing a school…

A school board member discusses the roles school boards and superintendents should maintain in the management of schools. The division of authority between the two is critical. Includes four steps to keep disagreements at a minimum. (MD)

An interview with an experienced, inner-city elementary school principal. Discusses forms of creative-insubordination, a practice by which local administrators disobey district orders for the good of the school. Weighs the advantages and dangers of discretionary decision-making. (KH)

Beginning with a historical review of the evolution of the superintendency in public education, this article focuses on mistakes made by superintendents in the early days of collective bargaining. Their attempts to act as intermediaries between boards and unions resulted in unions taking advantage of them to erode management prerogatives. (TE)

Conflict often occurs between architects and superintendents during the school building process. Expanding the "Standard Form of Agreement between Owner and Architect, "provided by the American Institute of Architects, to include terms written specifically for the protection of the owner can help resolve such conflict. (MLF)