School business officials need to "know and show" that their operations are well managed. To do so, they ask themselves questions, such as "How are they doing? How do they compare with others? Are they making progress fast enough? Are they using the best practices?" Using key performance indicators (KPIs) and benchmarking as regular parts of their…

The everyday operations of a school district depend on a network of people, including students, teachers, staff, and administrators. However, the ancillary services staff are really responsible for making the school day run smoothly. They are often the first employees that students see in the morning, either on the school bus or in the cafeteria,…

In today's restrictive school-funding environment, many school districts are evaluating different strategies for providing noninstructional support services to preserve financial resources for the classroom. Among the strategies they are considering on a wide scale is the contracting of support functions, including pupil transportation, custodial…

Food service energy research identifies food service methods and equipment that save energy while maintaining food quality, especially nutrition. This article discusses (1) research findings; (2) applications of these findings, including energy management policies, and energy-efficient equipment and recipes; and (3) efforts to educate students…

Highlights some of the applicable and appropriate legal precedents in a case involving school districts' responsibility to provide transportation services to severely handicapped children. Relevant factors include safety, cost, and educational benefit for the child. (MLF)

Addresses the need of school districts in many states to decide on an appropriate mingling of centralization and decentralization in the operation of activity funds. Argues for analysis of activity fund operation through a breakdown into such major components as policy, the accounting system, and reporting and auditing. (JBM)

A staff development program for the business-office staff is a model for small-to-medium-size districts. A group meets weekly for 60 to 90 minutes to discuss each department's successes, goals, and new business items. Meeting minutes also let other school personnel understand the complexities of running a district. (MLF)

Discusses development of program specifications for school support services based on incorporating behavioral aspects into design and evaluating costs on a life-cycle basis. Includes categories of support services, responsibilities for developing specifications, and one district's approach. (17 references) (MLF)