Faced by a tax revolt, Kingston (New York) City Schools reduced subsequent tax levies and maintained small budget increases while adding several programs. They returned money to taxpayers, settled outstanding contracts, tightened operations, froze hiring, controlled budgets, invested and spent wisely, sought grants, and got feedback. (MLH)

Lists crucial procedures devised by a superintendent to produce board meetings that are both open and thoroughly organized. (Author/JM)

In "The Discipline of Market Leaders" (1995), Michael Treacy and Fred Wiersama argue that an enterprise cannot be successful unless it actively pursues one of three value propositions: operational leadership, customer intimacy, or product leadership. Schools, too, must make a strategic decision to devote energies, policies, and practices…

The Hanover (Virginia) Public Schools won the U.S. Senate 1996 Award for Continuing Excellence for its productivity, or progress toward established benchmarks. Productivity is becoming part of the public school vernacular, as educators borrow business language and methods for educating more youngsters with fewer resources. An upcoming RAND…

A survey of 145 schools found that all had experimented with innovative purchasing approaches. Many used electronic methods, such as credit-card, fast-track requisition (most popular), bidding and purchasing, and data interchange. Results suggest that nonelectronic innovations (just-in-time, cooperative, direct, and consortium leverage purchasing)…

A carefully prepared agenda is the first step toward a successful school board meeting. Board members should receive the agenda and supporting materials before the agenda becomes public. Guidelines are suggested for ordering agenda items and preparing an evaluation form. (MLF)

Reviews strategies used by Pennsylvania school food service directors to attract more students and keep down costs in the wake of National School Lunch Program cutbacks. (JBM)

Offers guidelines on planning for and conducting smooth, efficient, and effective board meetings. (WD)

Offers guidelines on conducting board meetings efficiently while allowing for public participation. (WD)

The school board president can ensure better board meetings by following tips on planning the agenda, conducting the meeting, and following up on board decisions. (MLF)

Procedures for conducting an effective school board meeting at the Sidney Central School District, New York, include a monthly packet of information for board members, an unlisted telephone line to the superintendent's desk, and an agenda that lists future business for upcoming meetings. These procedures enable issues to be understood, discussed,…

Although state laws governing school district investing are quite conservative, there have been some notable investment failures leading to the loss of public funds. School districts must beware three kinds of investment risks involving credit, market, and interest rates and consider safety, legality, liquidity, and cash-flow requirements. (MLH)

Describes a Wisconsin program that successfully computerized the libraries of the entire school system, making them more efficient and enabling better use of professional staff time. (MD)

The president of the Morrisville-Eaton, New York, School Board offers suggestions to keep board meetings focused and productive. (MLF)

Research suggests four different metaphors of schools as organizations: (1) factory; (2) family; (3) jungle; and (4) cathedral. Each implies a leadership role and an ethical responsibility for board members. Integrating all four images might help provide a better map of the board's governance task and improve the board's ability to make wise…