School Administrators at Board Meetings: Who, When, and Why

Board of Trustees // October 21, 2014

Should school administrators besides the School Head routinely—or ever—attend Board meetings? Are there times when the Board ought to meet without the School Head? Don’t allow these seemingly small questions to become issues of contention. Put the following guidelines, observations, and recommendations to work.

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Is Your School Secure? Online Filters and Firewalls, Part Two

Academic Leadership // October 15, 2014

Last month, we talked about the different types of Internet filters available for school use and how they protect your students from dangerous hackers and disruptive websites. However, as powerful as these programs are, tech-savvy students—or even teachers!—can undermine your system. This month, we’ll turn our vision inward to examine security breaches from behind school walls.

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Dealing With Emotional Outbursts in the Classroom

Academic Leadership // October 15, 2014

In July 2014, the Los Angeles Times reported a lawsuit between a private school and a parent over the school’s treatment of its students during a time of emotional turmoil. What was the initial issue that sparked the litigious chain of events? A student’s inappropriate behavior during a classroom exam. Emotional outbursts can surprise and intimidate teachers unprepared to handle them—especially younger, inexperienced teachers. Let’s review how teachers could and should respond to students throwing hissy fits.

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The Pros and Cons of Payment Methods

Advancement // October 13, 2014

There are dozens of ways for donors to make their financial contributions to your capital campaign or annual fund, and each has advantages and disadvantages. With your time at a premium, you can’t evaluate them all. To help you decide what method works and which wastes your resources, we've compiled this pro-con list of three common methods of payment.

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Advertising Your Local Business Supporters

Advancement // October 13, 2014

Does telling people which vendors or donors have contributed to your school—financially or otherwise—constitute advertising? To answer that question, let’s play a game of “What If” this month. “What if” your private school has a spectacular after-school athletics program, made possible through community partnerships with local gyms and other vendors. Let's also pretend that your private school has a policy that forbids advertising of parent (read: local) businesses in its various publications and newsletters. Would partnering with these vendors break that policy?

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Stories, Not Statistics: Lessons From the “I Am a Warrior” Campaign

Advancement // October 9, 2014

We recently featured Valley Christian School’s “I Am a Warrior” campaign in our Private School News e-Letter. The school's campaign garnered several national awards and received great community response, with a 20% jump in enrollment over the two years since the campaign began. Marketing Director Kim Ellefsen attributes much of the campaign’s success to her fantastic school and the support of her school’s program leaders, but the campaign itself is quite remarkable. So let’s take a look at how Valley Christian’s campaign succeeded—and apply the lessons at your school.

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Open House Tips and Tricks

Advancement // October 9, 2014

October heralds open house season. Just as every school is different, no two schools run open houses in exactly the same way. Here are some insights gleaned from the open house veterans on our Admission Director e-List!

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An App a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

Business and Operations // October 3, 2014

OK, OK, of course we know technology has yet to hand us an app that is as resourceful or as accurate as our doctors are. Regardless of the reports that tie health benefits to apps, online trends, and social media usage, the original cliché we stole our title from is still by far your healthiest choice—the classic apple. It’s no secret, the key to good health is in the fuel you feed your body. So, keep those apples in your lunch pails! However, technology has handed us some crafty gadgets—97,000 at last count—that not only complement our healthy diets, but also work to keep us in line when we try to wander past the gym and into the local bakery. Here are a few suggestion-worthy apps to pass along to your health-committed faculty and staff as part of your Wellness Initiative.

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Ask ISM’s Risk Management Expert

Business and Operations // October 3, 2014

Q: Do you have any suggestions for a process for student and employees to report concerns or misdeeds?

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Managing Risk Beyond Gun Threats

Business and Operations // October 3, 2014

When you hear there have been 74 school shootings since the Sandy Hook tragedy in 2012, it’s hard to believe that gun violence is declining. However, the statistics are showing that our campuses and communities are safer now than they were two decades ago. While 74 is not a number worthy of a long exhale of relief, news of declining gun violence does allow a certain level of comfort—and it allows us to focus some of our risk management planning regarding other threats that can affect your school beyond gun control.

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