School site management and teacher empowerment have raised concerns about their effect on collective negotiations. Examines in case law the issues of who is management and what managerial prerogatives the board retains. Points out that state legislatures can allow delegation of any area of responsibility by the local school board. (MLF)

Relates program preferences of Catholic school teachers regarding in-service training. Cites greatest interest in programs dealing with discipline in the classroom, personal and social problems facing youth, development efforts toward improving teacher effectiveness, and teacher involvement in decision making. (PAA)

Argues for the use of colleague mentors to increase retention rates among new teachers. Describes mentors' role as offering emotional support, suggestions about effective instruction, and information on the mores of the school community. Identifies characteristics of good mentors. Stresses the importance of shared decision making in teacher…

According to one survey, good elementary schools have a strong sense of purpose and are committed to teamwork and staff development. A school board can instigate major improvements by developing a clearly stated policy affirming district commitment to sound early childhood education practices. A sidebar summarizes five characteristics of good…

This article presents five propositions for rethinking the role of teachers and the practice of teaching in the years ahead. The propositions are rooted in certain conditions of schooling and teaching and are proposed as a step toward making teaching as attractive a career as other lines of professional endeavor. (IAH)

Utilizes data from a four-year longitudinal study of two suburban school districts to explore obstacles to implementation of school based management (SBM) at the school district and building levels. Examines delegation of authority, functioning of site councils, and program advocacy. (FMW)

Analyzes role of "familiar outsider," the "transplant" reformer who rejects personal power while aiding community. Focuses on four outsiders assisting Virginia town's developing commission. Details relationship and leadership problems among commission, technical assistant, and community leaders during development of sewing…

This article discusses two outcomes of the movement to solve economic problems through school reform: corruption of the civic mission of public education, and the straightjacket-like conditions of teaching brought about by such reforms. Also discussed is the Institute for Democracy in Education, whose focus is democratic empowerment of students.…

The hostilities that many home school parents hold are deeper than the present circumstances and relations with schools suggest. Nevertheless, involvement of home school parents in public school and educational decision making can occur at all levels of administration. Adaptations for the state, district, and school level are suggested. (BJV)

Lists skills identified by the Leadership Development Task Force as being critical skills for a leader. Discussion focuses on information managing skills, including problem solving, decision making, setting goals and objectives; project management; and people managing skills, including interpersonal communications, conflict management, motivation,…

The Dade County, Florida, school system selected 32 schools to participate in a pilot program for shared decision making. Evaluators found similar problems and solutions in a variety of school settings and classified them into 9 categories. (MLF)

This study investigated teacher involvement in decision making in the Victoria (Australia) government school system. Data analysis found teacher involvement to be associated with gender, seniority and organizational responsibility, age and teaching experience, affiliation with the teachers' association, the influence of the principal, professional…

Explain's Duke University Library's change from a hierarchical management structure to one of self-managing teams developed within a total quality management (TQM) framework. Emphasizes the personal views and experiences of a manager responsible for implementing and guiding the process of change. (JKP)

Traces changes in governance at Canadore College (CC) in Ontario, focusing on the Associates Model of Governance which provides a felxible, top-down hierarchical organization that allows CC to adjust to the needs of its constituents. Reports that CC reduced its budget by $6 million while increasing enrollment by 25%. (MAB)

Principals want to be part of the decision-making process regarding business operational procedures. Principals want responsibility accompanied by the necessary authority along with having budgeting and other operational information readily available, technical assistance, evidence of equity, and immediate feedback. (MLF)