Q: Our broker has informed us that our insurance plan is too good, and that we will have to pay a penalty. Is this true? I understand that there are minimum requirements, but I wasn’t aware that there are also caps on how comprehensive the coverage you offer can be.

Summer can be a peaceful time at school—while everyone’s out of the building, you’re able to complete loud facility upgrades and examine policies in peace. But, that’s no reason not to take a few moments and rejuvenate your mind with a great book! So keep reading (see what we did there?) for some recommended books and webinars to help you discover and implement great strategies this next school year.

There’s a heat in the air, a humidity that refuses to lift, and an itch in your feet to walk on green grass rather than plush carpet. That’s right, summer’s here! While the classrooms are empty, there’s no need for learning to stop. So spend some time this summer catching up on your recommended reading and that professional development webinar you’ve been meaning to watch.

Last month, we talked to School Heads about the importance of adopting a year-long induction process for new teachers. Let’s allow that momentum to carry us onward and take a look at what other private-independent schools have done to inspire next year’s meetings and induction programs.

Two years ago, we published an article on prescription drug abuse in private schools. We reported that medicine prescribed to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was being misused by high-performing students—not to get high, but rather to focus on schoolwork and manage their heavy workloads. Now it’s 2014, and prescription drugs are still reported as a major problem for our best and brightest students.

Research has long proved that, during the summer, kids’ minds don’t retain much of what has been packed in there during the school year. Typically, the first few weeks of the new school year are spent catching up. But it’s not just students who need a refresher after a long break in their routine.

If your school is involved in green living practices or a community gardening program, perhaps you’ve been following the headlines concerning the decline of our beloved and relied upon honey bee. If the honey bee continues to disappear, the future of our food may be in jeopardy—or at least, the future of our fruits and veggies naturally being pollinated may be in jeopardy.

A School Head’s job is never done—even if students and teachers have abandoned their classrooms to frolic in the summer sun. Still, there’s surely some time to revitalize old strategies and develop new ones! So kick back, relax, and read one of these books we’ve collected specifically for School Heads. And—once you’re done—download one of our prerecorded Webinars for some professional development in the comfort of your office.

Q: What are the benefits of having an Employee Handbook? Of course, our school has one; however, it’s one of those things I think all organizations have but no one ever reads. I’ve been tasked with reviewing and potentially updating ours this summer, and am looking for some motivation.

After your Board has its summer retreat and you begin preparations for the next school year, streamline and enhance your Board’s functionality by compiling selected strategic documents. Store them in a specific container (e.g., a large binder or a hanging-file storage box) that is easily accessible for reference by Trustees as needed for committee work or during regular sessions. Of course, many of the documents can be stored and distributed digitally.