Relates the experience of the Bettendorf (Iowa) school system in seeking widespread community involvement in planning for drastic budget cuts. The participants' ranking of school programs is included. (WD)

Explores the effects of school budget cuts on music education in Oak Grove, California. When most public school music classes were eliminated, community members and parents organized a nonprofit association to teach music at cost. Teachers criticized themselves for failing to communicate the value of music education to school administrators. (AM)

Establishing a district's gifted education program involves (1) building support among other administrators, (2) involving teachers, (3) planning the program through a school-community committee, (4) developing a budget, (5) having principals coordinate the program, (6) maintaining parent support, and (7) not favoring the gifted program over other…

Identifies school financial planning techniques suitable for rural schools districts. Proposes a nine-step process: developing a planning policy, adopting a financial planning resolution, setting up a planning committee, analyzing district financial data, informing the public, developing the plan, presenting it to the public, amending and adopting…