Local community leaders should examine the principles involved in making committees an effective and efficient tool in group operations. A committee assists the parent organization in developing programs, carrying out business, establishing policies, executing affairs, and evaluating an organization's effectiveness. Committees have many social,…

Findings of a study that determined the response of local school boards in three states to the 1990 National Education Goals are presented. Data were gathered through a survey that was mailed to 718 school board members of public elementary and secondary school districts in Louisiana, Minnesota, and Nebraska. A total of 298 usable responses were…

Findings of a study that examined school-based management and shared decision-making processes (SBDM) in Chapter 1 and non-Chapter 1 elementary schools are presented in this paper. Methodology involved analysis of recent literature on SBDM, though Chapter 1 status as a variable was not specifically addressed. Three differences were found to…

The ongoing planning of school improvement in the Chicago Public Schools is examined in this paper. The Chicago School Reform Act required that principals consult with their local school councils (LSCs), staff, parents, and community members to develop a three-year school improvement plan (SIP). Data were derived from two studies: the first…

Local school councils (LSCs) constitute another type of involvement in the education arena. These councils' functions vary from providing advice to making comprehensive and controversial educational decisions that affect students and staff. This booklet provides background information on LSCs, points out their benefits and drawbacks, and raises…

Designed for new trustees at community colleges in the Illinois Community College System (ICCS), this handbook provides background information and an orientation to the responsibilities of members of community college boards of trustees. The booklet briefly covers the following topics: (1) historical and legislative background to the establishment…

Recommendations are presented from a "blue ribbon" committee formed to review and modify the Statement of Mission and Statewide Priorities of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. The first sections present the members of the commission and provide a background to the committee's deliberations. Next, committee…

Characteristics and practices of governing boards of colleges or systems and ways that administrators and faculty can work more effectively with trustees are considered. Attention is directed to: the history and evolution of lay trusteeship; the composition of the board and selection of trustees; responsibilities of the board; board structures and…

As part of a larger study of the efficacy of the local boards of trustees for California's community colleges, the chief executive officer (CEO) of each community college district was surveyed to determine what proportion of the more than 400 board members in the state were women, what the current or recent vocations of the board members were, and…

The duties, working environment, and characteristics of the chief school administrators of the privately owned American-sponsored overseas schools are described in this paper. The document looks first at the schools themselves, touching on the make-up of their student bodies, their educational philosophies, and their governance. The history of…

Designed to assist college trustees in the North Carolina community college system in carrying out their duties, this handbook contains information about the system, the functions and responsibilities of trustees, local and state budgets, and pertinent laws. First, introductory comments place the work of the trustee within the context of the…

Community college administrators need to become more active in the scholarly pursuits of inquiry, writing, publishing, experimentation, and investigation if they are to emerge as institutional leaders and gain the respect of their colleagues and the educational community. Though administrators are often perceived as alienated from scientific…

Bylaws for independent colleges who wish assistance in writing or revising their own bylaws are presented. The bylaws are designed to provide a basis for discussion on the form of governance an institution may wish to establish. Several provisions may also be useful for tax-supported institutions. Sixteen articles cover the following: powers of…

This background paper examines the place of community colleges within the overall organization of postsecondary education and the means for governing these institutions in each of the western United States. First, introductory material defines institutional governance and the role it plays in defining the role and mission of community colleges.…

To assist in the selection of new private school heads, this manual provides advice to both boards of trustees and candidates. Advice directed to the board covers timing of the search and selection, announcement of the current head's resignation, search committee formation, the committee chairperson, staff assistance, search budget, job…