The Vernonia (Oregon) School District passed a mandatory random drug testing policy for student athletes that was later upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. A survey of randomly selected superintendents in five geographic regions disclosed that a majority of respondents who knew about the case were leaning toward not adopting a similar policy. (28…

The charter-school movement is a transition to a total system change that began sometime after World War II and the Korean War. When 1960s educators started the alternative schools movement, they were really creating charter schools. Resistance to charter schools is based not on philosophy, but on scarce financial resources. However, educators…

The wait-and-react and laundry-list approaches to combating teachers' collective-bargaining demands are ineffective. An alternative goals-setting approach requires management and the district negotiations team to identify important needs and objectives. West Seneca Central School District ended contentious negotiations by presenting unions with…

In a four-year study, an assistant professor of educational administration asked superintendents and their staffs to characterize superintendents' leadership styles. Definitions generally fell into the category "power over" rather than "power with/to." Superintendents must learn to speak about power as a collaborative concept,…

Administrators should (1) realize that most people lose their jobs because they are uncooperative, (2) never confuse the number of hours worked with value to the organization, (3) respect the opposition and critics, (4) keep meetings brief, and (5) remember it's all about human relationships. (MLF)

Describes successful efforts by a black principal (1957-1968) of an all-black high school in Gainesville, Georgia, to improve the academic performance of students. Includes relations with the superintendent and black parents. (Contains 38 references.)(PKP)

Overview of macro-level structures, policies, and institutionalized practices that influence mismatches between superintendent supply and demand. Also explores micro-politics of local school board searches and selection practices that can affect access of women and people of color to the superintendency. Provides an alternative explanation of…

Many corporations, foundations, and individual donors are committed to supporting public education. Solicitation of grants and gifts from individuals is practically nonexistent in the public schools. Few board members or school administrators know whom to ask for them. Offers some fund-raising tactics and sources for funding opportunities. (MLF)

Describes why school-board employment decisions, especially involving the hiring of a new superintendent, did not work out. Identifies and discusses several common mistakes boards make during the hiring process. For example, the board asked too many "tell me why you would do" and not enough "tell us what you did" questions. (PKP)

Personal experience of her first-year experience as superintendent of the Southeast Warren Community School District, a small rural district in Liberty Center, Iowa. (PKP)

Interviews with 18 South Carolina superintendents provide the background for 9 ways superintendents can build positive relations with their boards, along with comments about knowing when to move on. (MLF)

Two school leaders reflect on their personal involvement in parent relations. Although a Missouri principal notes positive results from her school's Parents as Instructional Partners program, she deplores some parents' indifferent attitudes toward education. A Wisconsin superintendent stresses honest communication and taking parents' complaints…

Examines the willingness of school superintendents to comply with requests to survey high school students, in relation to requests from researchers of pro-union, anti-union, and neutral status. Proposes two hypotheses: (1) administrators are opposed to all advocates in the labor relations domain; or (2) administrators are opposed to pro-union…

A survey sent to a random selection of 11,992 school board members elicited responses from 2,166 (18 percent). The survey focused on superintendent tenure, a profile of the typical board member, and current priorities. Six charts provide region-by-region demographic data. (MLF)

A study of communication between superintendents and legislators in Illinois revealed that superintendents seldom speak to legislators. Survey forms were sent to the 39 legislators on education committees: 29 legislators completed the survey, and 21 of these were interviewed indepth. (MLF)