Community Corner

Community Corner
Community Corner

Stay current with the latest private-independent school news.

What are the latest trends impacting private-independent school enrollment? How can you be the most effective in your role as an administrator? How can you help your school meet its mission and best serve your students?

Sign up to receive Community Corner, a free newsletter from ISM.

We cover such topics as how to communicate with your constituencies, work with your fellow school leaders, leverage new technology trends, utilize recommended reading and resources, implement new strategies—all to better serve your school's mission. 

Join more than 30,000 private-independent school administrators and have Community Corner delivered right to your inbox.

Search

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

Kids Summer Safety Tips

Private School News // December 9, 2009

Kids look forward to summer. Whether they're off to camp, summer programs, or spending two months in their own backyards, they love the free time to play, explore, and dream. Summertime freedom can lead to more than creative exploration, however, it can also lead to accidents. Here are some safety reminders we found on the American Academy of Pediatrics Web site, that will hopefully help to keep all the little people in your life accident-free.

Read More

Do You Need a 504 Plan for a Food Allergy?

Private School News // December 9, 2009

Chances are, as a private-independent school, no you don't. Unless you receive federal funds or services to support your programs, you may not be required to comply. (Your Admission Office should have the details on whether or not your school needs to develop a 504 Plan.) However, a major provision of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires public schools (libraries, Universities, and the like) to provide all students, regardless of disability, with a free appropriate public education. Hence, anything interfering with a student's ability to learn, physical, mental, or emotional, is subject to review.

Read More

Sex Offenders on the Rise

Private School News // December 9, 2009

According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, since 2001 there has been a 78% increase in registered sex offenders. In the Washington DC area, registries have grown even faster—there are now more than 24,000 people listed.

Read More

Spring Break Students Brought Back More Than Souvenirs

Private School News // December 9, 2009

Just when we thought winter's nasty flu season was behind us, we have a new strand to be concerned with—the swine flu (H1N1). Having no relation to cold weather, this new virus comes from sunny Mexico. And although health officials are telling us not to panic, that this is not an epidemic, they are warning people about unnecessary travel to Mexico and contact with anyone who has recently been to affected areas.

Read More

Are You Willing to Pay $80.20 for a Dozen Eggs?

Private School News // December 9, 2009

That's an absurd suggestion. Yet, according to the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, if food prices had risen at the same rates as medical inflation since the 1930s, a dozen eggs would be equivalent to a nice dinner out for a family of four.

Read More

Top 5 Teacher Blogs

Private School News // December 9, 2009

Blogs, forums, chat rooms, listservs—the list goes on and on. These are valuable resources to find alternative opinions and information about almost anything. From HR concerns to just needing a quick laugh to fuel the rest of your day, blogs can help remind you you're not alone in the all to often chaotic world of private-independent education. Here's a few we liked and thought we would share.  

Read More

Long-Term Disability Policies (Part One)

Private School News // December 9, 2009

A group Long Term Disability coverage policy is a powerful ally in your efforts to attract and keep the best faculty and staff. LTD is an essential component of your benefits package for two reasons—it protects employees' income, and it protects the school's fiscal health. When you examine your school's LTD plan, make sure you take the following points into consideration.

Read More

H1N1: A National Emergency

Private School News // December 9, 2009

Earlier this month, President Obama declared the swine flu outbreak a national emergency. He gave permission to hospitals and local governments to set up alternative sites for treatment and triage procedures if needed to handle any surge of patients. What President Obama didn't address, however, was the shortage of vaccines available.  

Read More

Impossible To Earn An A?

Private School News // December 9, 2009

Perhaps you've seen the new stories about Virginia's Fairfax County parents fighting for easier grading standards. In case you missed the headlines, here's what people are talking about.

Read More