The Sheffield (England) City Council used an advisory group approach to solicit citizen participation in community planning. Two important lessons were: ensuring that all target groups are represented and providing training and information to prepare citizen representatives for their consulting role. (SK)

To support concepts such as teacher empowerment, school improvement plans, and site-based decision making, principals must learn how to lead or work with small groups. Each project team must have a champion (usually the principal), assigned members, a name, a district goal, desired outcomes, critical parameters, a time frame, resources, processes,…

Contains a scripted interchange between three caricatures (the zealous reformer, the harried committee chair, and the skeptical administrator) concerning a project for curriculum reform in a college English department. (TB)

Encourages teachers to participate and take leadership roles on committees designed to improve the educational process. Notes that the process of change is slow in the present school structure. (RS)

Discusses four issues for higher education institutions to consider if they employ consultants for presidential searches: (1) search consultants dominate the process; (2) they do not really expand the pool of applicants; (3) organizing the search process can be handled well by institutions themselves; and (4) consultants are inevitably placed in…

Responses from 20 chairs of allied health dean/director search committees indicated that 55% found filling the position very or moderately easy. Mean time was 6.9 months. Most (65%) new deans/directors had health professions backgrounds; 30% had been assistant deans/directors. With a mean number of 11.7 viable candidates, the applicant pool was…

Lists primary and secondary schools newly accredited at the 1990 annual meeting of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Lists schools discontinued, withdrawn, or dropped; members of reviewing committees; commission membership for 1989-90; and committees of the commission. (PAA)

Presents the constitution and rules of the North Central Association of College and Schools. Lists members of the Board of Directors, representatives of the commission on schools and the commission on institutions of higher education, appeals committee members, and honorary members by year elected. (PAA)

While the use of a search committee may be a more representative method, it may not be the most effective method for selecting a new president. The use of both a search consultant and a search committee permits the delegation of the "search" to the consultant and the "selection" to the committee. (MLW)

Explains the role of senior congressional committee staff members--people recognized as very knowledgeable or influential. Two key limitations: they may be fired at will and must closely represent their bosses' views. Staff members' jobs have four aspects (connecting, collecting, initiating, and implementing) associated with forming national…

Outlines a successful approach for working with lay advisory committees. Recommends the use of written procedures, orientation activities, time to socialize, and recognition of the committee members' contributions. (DMM)

Committees can be effective in helping accomplish organizational goals including affirmative action and non-discrimination goals. The most effective affirmative action committees are proactive and assertive. (MLW)

According to advocates, school uniforms reduce gang influence, decrease families' clothing expenditures, and help mitigate potentially divisive cultural and economic differences. Aiming to improve school climate, a California elementary school adopted uniforms as a source of pride and affiliation. This article describes the development of the…

Solutions to common problems of college and university alumni boards and their meeting effectiveness are offered. Recommended are developing diversity in board membership, setting goals, making service meaningful, trying for turnover, balancing the work burden, planning for dignified departures, and fostering member involvement. (DB)

Provides an account of the activities of the Library Council of Papua New Guinea from its inception in 1975 to 1990. Highlights include background on the council, meetings of the council and membership, minutes and reports of ad hoc committees, work undertaken by the council, reports on projects, and commentaries on the council. (19 references)…