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?

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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. 

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

The Swine Flu Is Predicted to Return This Fall

Business and Operations // December 10, 2009

Last month we wrote an article claiming that the swine flu hype was finally calming down. Here in the states, the chatter has all but ceased. But now specialists are claiming that the fall might revive the swine flu—and that it might come back with a vengeance, being stronger and more far-reaching than it was this spring.

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How to Make Your School Newsletter Interactive

Advancement // December 10, 2009

Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn—if you're not a member of at least one of these online communities, what are you waiting for? Social networking is the place to be! Join a "group," become a "fan," or support a "cause"—and have others join your school's group, or become a fan of your page. If your school has a monthly newsletter, these sites make great platforms to offer additional information to your reader. They also allow your readers to interact with your materials, which is what most readers are looking for—especially if your newsletter is delivered by e-mail.

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Long Term Disability Policies (Part One)

School Heads // December 10, 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.

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Choosing or Changing Payroll Vendors

Business and Operations // December 10, 2009

As the new school year began this year, Business Managers were busy chatting on the ISM listserv about payroll services. Because our mission behind creating each issue of our monthly e-letters is to help address and resolve the concerns and issues that are most relevant to you as Business Officers, we've sorted through the main issues and advice offered by the list serv participants and—combining it with our consultants' direct experience on payroll matters—are pleased to offer the following for your consideration as you explore potential payroll options.

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EPA to Monitor Pollutants Near Schools

School Heads // December 10, 2009

On March 31, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that the outdoor air of 62 schools in 22 states will now be tested for toxic air contaminants.

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e-Readers On Campus: What College Students Had to Say

Business and Operations // December 10, 2009

The ever-evolving technology world has recently brought the idea of electronic libraries closer to a reality for schools and universities. On the ISM listservs, people are starting to ask about introducing e-Readers to students. Since it seems to be of interest, we dug a little into what people are saying about reading and researching on e-Reader screens versus "hitting the books" in their campus libraries.

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Just What Do Employees Want?

School Heads // December 10, 2009

A recent "USA Today Snapshots ®" reported on the types of recognition people in the workplace prefer, based on a survey of 388 administrative professionals conducted by the online community OfficeArrow™

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Report Names Reasons Young Teachers Leave the Profession

Academic Leadership // December 10, 2009

A recent report from the not-for-profit, nonpartisan National Council on Teacher Quality showed that many states' laws and regulations discourage promising new teachers from remaining in the profession, while doing little to identify and council out ineffective teachers. The report found that states:

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'Reality' in the Classroom …

School Heads // December 10, 2009

Tony Danza, the TV actor who played a none-too-bright cab driver on "Taxi" and a baseball-player-turned-housekeeper on "Who's the Boss?" is teaching 10th grade English this fall in a Philadelphia inner-city school.

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Older Volunteers Doing Good Work in Schools

Academic Leadership // December 10, 2009

Last month, The Journal of Gerontology published its most recent findings about the benefits of having senior citizens volunteer in school classrooms. After following Experience Corps volunteers—a group of paid volunteers that consists primarily of African-American women age 60 and older—over a period of years, researchers from Johns Hopkins University found that students who interact with the Experience Corps volunteers showed significant gains in reading comprehension when compared to students in control classrooms.

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