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See articles for School Heads, Business & Operations, Advancement, Academic Leadership, and Trustees, in addition to Private School News.

Keep Your School Accessible

Board of Trustees // February 21, 2012

Private schools annually wrestle with complex financial issues that center on the question of tuition. Board members often find themselves asking, “How can we keep our school affordable?” ISM believes this is the wrong question to ask.

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21st Century Bus Safety

Business and Operations // February 20, 2012

As Business Manager, your job duties may also include those of Risk Manager and Facilities Manager. And with those responsibilities comes the never-ending duty of ensuring student safety at all times—on and off campus.

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Green Corner

Business and Operations // February 20, 2012

Greening Your Office Space Originally published on sierraclub.org Maximize computer efficiency Computers in the business sector unnecessarily waste $1 billion worth of electricity a year.

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An A.P.P.L.E. Rewards a Teacher…Thanks to In-Kind Donations!

Advancement // February 16, 2012

People frequently find themselves holding onto tickets for events that they can’t use for some reason—extras from season passes, illness, time conflict, etc. These could be for theater, sporting events, concerts, art exhibits. The list goes on. Well, The Bush School in Seattle, WA, has a program that puts those extras to good use—as a warm “thank you” to their teachers for all they do for their students and the school.

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Ask the Expert

Advancement // February 16, 2012

From time to time, we pitch a question culled from the ISM Advancement Listserv to our experts. This month, Michael Christopher, Assistant Headmaster—School Advancement, at Lausanne Collegiate School (TN) is at the plate.

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When (Not If) a Crisis Happens, Will You Be Ready?

School Heads // February 6, 2012

A crisis at a school is in the news more often than any of us is comfortable with. There has been a shooting. An administrator has been arrested. A nearby factory has had a toxic spill. Or a serious cheating scandal has erupted. These types of events—and numerous more—could put your school in a crisis that could have long-term consequences.

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Students, Accidents, and Your School’s Liability

Business and Operations // February 1, 2012

Accidental injuries to students participating in school-related activities—both sport and non-sport related—are certainly nothing new. However, with increasing coverage “gaps” in the form of co-pays and higher deductibles found in more and more traditional health plans, out- of-pocket losses are on the rise. So too, unfortunately, is the increase in the number of “3rd-party (parent) lawsuits holding schools more and more responsible for their actions. Accordingly, schools need to be increasingly aware of their liability in this area. .

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Winter Hazards

Business and Operations // February 1, 2012

Most of the country is celebrating a mild winter. However, snow, ice, and extreme cold has still made an appearance—a risky appearance—in northern states. For those cold-loving outdoorsmen at heart, this is a great time of year to get outdoors and kick up some snow. With any extreme weather, there are risks and safety precautions to be aware of.

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Exams: Should They Stay or Should They Go?

Academic Leadership // January 31, 2012

Midterms and finals are engrained in the educational system for middle and upper schoolers. Usually, they are held during a prescribed time period when no other learning goes on. The exam period is stressful for the student—a “do or die” situation. And the exam period is inconsistent with the 21st century school structure.

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The Teacher Evaluation Stalemate in New York

Academic Leadership // January 31, 2012

There’s a ruckus being raised in New York over teacher evaluations, an impasse between the state and the teacher unions. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg are both frustrated that a more robust evaluation system with consequences including firing is being held up by the unions over issues including an appeals process and the role of test scores.

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