The analyst organizes information and directs board discussions concerning fundamental choices and comprehensive alternatives on selected issues. An analyst is an appropriate and timely addition to the governing process--and he can save money. (Author/IRT)

Discusses the need for school board policies and provides an outline of typical categories that should be covered by policies. (IRT)

Offers guidelines for writing a school district policy manual that can reduce personnel problems, improve employee morale, and promote community understanding of school administration. (Author/WD)

Presents a blueprint for developing a consistent drug-and-alcohol-use policy that has been used nationwide by school systems to fit their own local circumstances. (MLF)

Effective field trip policies will address the suitability of trips, proposal requirements, student participation, school-wide planning and organization, transportation, permission forms, insurance, emergency procedures, costs, and the assignnment of responsibility for supervision. (PGD)

To formulate a clear, concise, consistent no-drug-use policy, boards of education must understand chemical dependence, assess local needs, determine the policy direction, compare past and present policies with a "no use" policy, align needs with resources, add specifics to the policy and implement it, and evaluate and update the policy regularly.…

School districts annually receive between 100 and 200 requests from outside groups to distribute information, raise funds, and add new units of instruction. Administrators should document the situation in their own districts, examine the procedures currently in use to handle requests, and design new ones if necessary. Contains a sample policy,…

School boards should try to anticipate issues before they arise by reviewing the issues other boards are dealing with and tapping many sources of information. Offers 12 recommendations. (MLF)

A crisis-intervention plan charts the components of the school district's response to a crisis that includes prevention, intervention, and follow-up. The plan should explain how a school will communicate with other agencies, staff, parents, students, and the news media; describe what long-range training the school will provide for school…

A 9-page curriculum for school boards. (Author)

A school board that initiates policies can ensure that these policies are consistent with their mission, goals, and other policies. This article supplies a 22-item checklist of questions developed by the Michigan Association of School Boards to help board members tackle the policymaking process, from origins to adoption and oversight. (MLH)

Seven suggestions are provided to help superintendents plan and conduct more cohesive school board meetings: (1) research all proposals; (2) schedule time for discussion; (3) anticipate questions; (4) include background, rationale, and options for proposals; (5) present reports lucidly; (6) allow for independent exploration; and (7) follow up on…

The principal is no longer regarded merely as a middle manager. An effective board relationship should develop his leadership role. (WM)

To handle a death in the school community wisely and sensitively, school boards need to develop a death response policy. A policy developed by a diverse committee will be sensitive to the needs of the entire school community. Offers seven points to consider in drafting a policy. (MLF)