A school administrator plays many roles in the course of his work, and his legal rights and responsibilities vary considerably depending on the particular role he is playing. Actions that might be considered legal or even desirable in one context might make an administrator liable to litigation in another context. A court's perception of the role…

This study analyzes decisional practices of Kentucky school boards, concentrating on the behavior of the boards as units rather than on the behavior of individual board members. The analysis is based on data from questionnaires completed by members of 57 Kentucky school boards, data describing school district social and economic characteristics,…

This is a negotiated agreement between the Macomb College Association of Administrative Personnel (MCAAP) and the Board of Trustees of Macomb County Community College (Michigan). The MCAAP includes the chief executives of each campus, the business managers, deans, department chairmen, and the directors of registration, counseling, and other…

Twelve members of the Rhode Island Board of Regents, 14 administrators of Rhode Island Junior College (RIJC), and 14 officers of the RIJC Association were polled concerning who should set educational policy in twenty different areas. Responses were received from 6 regents, 10 administrators, and 10 faculty. Response data is given for the overall…

Experiences in coping with an acquired immune deficiency (AIDS)-struck child demonstrated that the public can be trusted to be responsible if people are informed promptly and fully, and they see school officials acting quickly, decisively, and confidently. (MLF)

Distinguishes three types of "mavericks" (single-issue advocaters, aspiring politicians, and administrative meddlers) who often complicate school board operations and offers six maxims for dealing with them, including understanding board members' personal motivations and conducting board business as openly as possible. (JBM)

The author's suggestions for dealing with single-issue board members include preparing for potential problems before "mavericks" take their seats, being fair to the maverick member's single issue, alerting mavericks to public pressure, and conducting a board self-analysis session. (JBM)

The 1991 book "The Effective Board of Trustees" presents a model of governing board effectiveness, based on an empirical study of 22 private liberal arts and comprehensive colleges. Since the book was published, various nonprofit organizations, including seminaries and theological schools, have used this model in presentations, educational…

A survey of 105 rural school superintendents in Colorado investigated areas significant to success in and satisfaction with the superintendency in rural school districts. These areas included school district background, perceptions of the rural superintendency, future plans of respondents, governance issues, board-superintendent relations,…

This guide is intended to be a tool to help those involved in the superintendent selection process. Section titles reflect the guide's contents. "The Decision to Seek a Superintendent"; "The Case for Using a Search Consultant"; "Setting a Timeline"; "Involvement of Parents, Citizens, Students and Staff";…

Davidson College's two-day program of trustee involvement is presented as a model for others. Activities involved: inviting spouses for the program, small group sessions, creating conflict, simulation exercises, and entertainment in the form of a game show with teams handling questions about the college. (MLW)

Describes six danger signs that can indicate whether a school board is at risk of failing to serve the community properly, manage public funds wisely, or provide students with the best possible education. (LMI)

The La Crosse (Wisconsin) School Board turned to the comprehensive school board development program offered by the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) for help in governance policy. The board adopted John Carver's Policy Governance model consisting of ends policies, executive limitations, board and superintendent relationship, and…

Examines administration, motivation, and compensation among educational leaders. Discusses the high-stakes, high-stress jobs of superintendents, assistant superintendents, subject-area supervisors, principals, and assistant principals. Also looks at the role of school board members and the importance of teamwork in education. (Contains one table…

When a state legislator requested that the president of Southwest Missouri State University stop production of a drama department production about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the administrator refused to accede to pressure and enlisted and won the board's support. (MSE)