Analyzes the survival of San Francisco (California) public alternative elementary schools from a symbolic perspective. Concludes that the manipulation of symbols and an effective combination of loose and tight management styles have resulted not only in maintenance but in growth. (FMW)

School board members refuse to honor the elusive line separating governance and management, policy and administration. Reviews the influence of women board members, accountability, and parental pressure on school boards. (MLF)

Every school board would be wise to agree on a set of beliefs about how lasting change is made and how board operations can foster desired changes. Decisions are best made through a search for solutions that will at least partly satisfy everyone. Consensus is the preferred strategy for making decisions. (MLF)

Describes the development of a long-term plan for the transformation of literacy practices in a small K-8 school district. Discusses the superintendent's role in facilitating the change process. Appends a sample project action plan presented to the board of education and three sample school board presentations. (SR)

Compares effectiveness of action, verbal, and written communications from schools in 59 South Carolina school districts through a survey of superintendents. No significant differences are found in district evaluation of effectiveness of the three modes of communication. Existing communications are primarily composed of surface types of information…

A school superintendent describes the restructuring in his Springfield (Massachusetts) school district. The effort to desegregate from the perspectives of race, color, ethnic background, and gender has involved organizational, pedagogical, social, attitudinal, and political transformation. Emphasis is given to the district's choice system. (SLD)

Presents eight themes concerning the superintendents' roles in the 1990s that demand a bold restructuring of school leadership. Future superintendents must project passionate instructional leadership, recapture the focus on student learning, coordinate community child services, redefine success with performance-based assessment, fight for…

From a random sample of 6,102 school executives, 1,115 (18 percent) answered questions about their attitudes toward hiring relatives and receiving gifts and services from vendors. Tables illustrate data by principals at school level, and by superintendents. Demographic information about respondents is provided. (MLF)

Milwaukee's voluntary student transfer program started in 1976 and today includes the city school district and 23 suburban districts. This year, 5,856 Milwaukee students chose to attend suburban schools, whereas 874 suburban students are attending Milwaukee schools. A participating superintendent describes the legal-agreement process and…

A model of the new participatory-style school leader, San Jose (California) Unified Schools' superintendent Jim Baughman elicits a wide range of ideas and encourages broad-based participation to resolve district problems like imminent teacher strikes and an ever-worsening financial situation. His administrative cluster restructuring plan is…

Study surveyed North Carolina school superintendents (n=140) and high school seniors (n=300) on the extent of teacher-student sexual harassment. Data revealed discrepancies between the number of teachers disciplined for student sexual harassment and the number of students claiming harassment. Presents a structure for establishing guidelines to…

High school students no longer keep company with the grown-ups they are about to become. Schools and districts have grown exponentially larger, impersonal, and bureaucratic, resembling post offices. Superintendents and boards who know their schools only through media representations or statistics fashion unrealistic policies. Coercion and…

Discusses the results of a recent Canadian study in which the perceptions of superintendents, principals, and teachers were analyzed and compared in order to determine the actual level of agreement between the practices for instructional supervision outlined in the school division's policy manual and the actual practice in the schools governed by…

Would-be reformers often overlook the importance of collegial working relationships. Site administrators have little training in the human dynamics required to relate well to teachers while providing constructive feedback on their performance. Fear of repercussion thwarts the evaluation and improvement process. Constructive communication practices…

Passage of a 1990 tax limitation measure made Oregon one of few states since 1978 to mandate reductions in local property taxes. A survey of Oregon school superintendents revealed their fears about reduced local discretion and use of revenue management/forecasting tools and rational, goal-oriented cutback approaches. (Contains 36 footnotes.) (MLH)