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See articles for School Heads, Business & Operations, Advancement, Academic Leadership, and Trustees, in addition to Private School News.
Merit Pay: The Debate Rages On
Private School News // April 2, 2014
Adequate compensation for teachers has long been the subject of debate, in both private-independent and public school spheres. Recently, merit pay has become the focus of renewed compensation efforts, particularly in its implementation. Should pay be based on student performance, or on other factors? Public schools using merit pay based on test scores have seen little success. Private schools, on the other hand, use merit pay for faculty growth and retention purposes.
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Wake Up on the Right Side of the Bed—Start School Later!
Private School News // April 2, 2014
Waking up can be a drag. With all the apps and gadgets available to help late risers roll out of bed on time, clearly rising and greeting the morning remains the greatest pre-coffee hurtle for many. Such dysfunction can carry over to your classrooms, particularly in your homerooms and early courses. Here's an idea to solve the yawns: Delay your start time! Several private-independent schools across the country are experimenting with later start times and seeing positive results.
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Teen Sues Parents for Tuition
Business and Operations // March 27, 2014
Rachel Canning, an 18-year-old senior living in New Jersey, made national headlines when the lawsuit she filed against her parents for tuition costs caught the attention of CNN. Canning is suing her parents for the last semester of her private Catholic school tuition, as well as living expenses, claiming she cannot financially support herself and was forced to leave her home in the fall of 2013.
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Recognizing Heatstroke in Athletic Students
Business and Operations // March 27, 2014
With April just a week away, the start of spring training is promised. Eager students and coaches are ready to put a long winter behind them and get back on the field. But, as temperatures climb and the season extends, certain risks are heightened, such as heatstroke. According to the North Carolina Injury Prevention Research Center, the five-year block from 2005–2009 had more heatstroke deaths than any other five-year period in the past 35 years.
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Q&A With ISM’s Risk Manager
Business and Operations // March 27, 2014
Q: Are there “no-cost” ways to make our facilities safer?
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"Detoxing" Faculty Negativity
School Heads // March 25, 2014
Contract renewal season is here once again! For many of your faculty, it’s a formality. Their classes are vibrant and exciting; their students are engaged and growing; their teaching methods blossom under your school’s dedication to their professional development. You look forward to working with them for years to come. Some teachers, however, have not met your standards for retention. Keep reading for some common attributes and attitudes of toxic faculty and ways to mitigate the damage to your school and students.
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Office "Hacks" for School Heads
School Heads // March 25, 2014
“Life hacks”—or innovations to make your life easier in unexpected and original ways—are inventions of the Information Age. If you’d like some modern tips and tricks to reorganize your cluttered workspace and improve your office efficiency, read on.
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Compliant e-Mail Practices
Business and Operations // March 20, 2014
In efforts to reduce printing costs and “go green,” your school might have decided to make the switch to primarily electronic communications. As Business Manager, you probably don’t have a lot of influence over what promotional material is distributed to whom, but it is part of your job as your school’s Risk Manager to know what practices are legally compliant, reducing your risks of law suits, and which practices are not.
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Ask ISM’s Health Care Reform Expert
Business and Operations // March 20, 2014
Q: We are a small school with 15 employees. I heard we could get money back for offering health insurance to our employees.If this is true, how do we apply or qualify for this?
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Medical Bill Bankruptcy
Business and Operations // March 20, 2014
There has been a lot of change regarding health insurance and coverage since President Obama came into office. The Affordable Care Act and the laws and provisions that it entails have made a rather large impact on everyone, both personally and in terms of business. Opinions on new provisions vary; however, without venturing down that slippery slope, let’s take a look at some medical debt facts resonating for those with and without coverage.
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