The employment contract is the key item in superintendent firing, and thus, it should include provisions for termination. Terminations can misfire if the board does not carry out contractual obligations. Eight points of advice are included for boards that are contemplating firing a superintendent. (MD)

Profiles of 100 top executive educators selected for their excellence in administering their schools by an independent panel of jurors. (MLF)

A survey was conducted to assess school superintendents' attitudes toward the concept of merit pay. Nearly 80 percent of respondents supported the idea, but the survey also revealed barriers to successful implementation and reasons that certain merit pay plans failed. Analysis of responses by community (urban, suburban, and rural) follows. (TE)

Recounts who are the black educational leaders now and who were leaders in the past. (IRT)

An associate superintendent looks at recent shifts in power at the local district level and suggests political trends that may influence the future of education. (Author)

Early warnings of superintendent-board difficulties can often be seen in the selection procedure. Two approaches to resolving difficulties are an annual review of the superintendent and the use of a mediator once conflict has flared up. (Author/IRT)

Board members should be alert to teacher union attempts to intimidate board members, superintendents, and principals. (IRT)

Available from: The Buckeye Association of School Administrators, 750 Brooksedge Blvd., Westerville, Ohio 43081; $8.00 annually.

This publication highlights important work being undertaken on behalf of and within rural schools. SERVE is taking a look at exemplary rural schools and programs from around the SERVE region. Six articles spotlight some of the exciting work taking place in rural schools throughout the Southeast. Each Senior Policy Research Analyst chose a school…

This report is based on interviews of 18 school superintendents who demonstrate the quality know as resilience. The 14 men and 4 women averaged 17 years as superintendent, serving 3 rural, 13 suburban, and 2 urban school districts. It was found that resilient superintendents deal with challenges in positive ways. They do not dwell on the negative…

This paper describes a professional development approach using narrative and study. During the 2000-2001 school year, researchers worked with the leadership team (13 educators) of a county accommodation school district in a major urban center in the southwestern United States. The general goal of professional development was to assist the…

Now in its Second Edition, "The School Superintendent: Theory, Practice, and Cases," provides reflective summaries, pertinent questions, and case studies at the end of each chapter to encourage the reader to engage in reflection by linking content with personal experiences. The text provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of the school…

This paper describes home schooling in Alabama from the perspectives of public-school superintendents and home-schooling families. It is based on a study that investigated the extent, causes, and experiences of home schooling; concerns about the practice of home schooling; and the relationship between home schoolers and public-school systems. Home…

This report provides a description of open-enrollment programs, including tables showing the number of applications and transfers by grade, by race, and by special education status. In addition, the report provides summary information, such as the number of school districts in which more than 3 percent of the students transferred out, the number…