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See articles for School Heads, Business & Operations, Advancement, Academic Leadership, and Trustees, in addition to Private School News.
Ask Michael
Business and Operations // May 31, 2013
Q: One of our veteran teachers was offended by a performance evaluation that she felt didn’t adequately reflect her contributions to the school—so she wrote a rebuttal. Do I have to include this in her personnel file?
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Health Care Reform, Exchanges, and School Culture
Business and Operations // May 31, 2013
When health care reform (aka, Obamacare or PPACA) was first passed in 2010, the year 2014—when perhaps the biggest change brought about by the law, the creation of state-run “exchanges,” would first come into place—seemed well in the distance. We find that it is only months away. As these changes approach, many schools wonder uncertainly, “What should we do? What can we do?”
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Hiring New Teachers … and Managing Their Performance
Academic Leadership // May 29, 2013
As Division Head, you are probably going through the process of hiring new teachers for the coming school year. Just as your Admission Office is vetting applicants for mission-appropriateness, you are looking for the right fit in your new hires.
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Summer Reading for Faculty
Academic Leadership // May 29, 2013
When a Division Head asked for summer reading suggestions, ISM’s Lower School Heads/Division Heads e-list lit up with offerings for Division Heads and faculty members. Consider some of these books for your summer reading.
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Police Officers on Campus
Private School News // May 22, 2013
With bullying concerns rising and school violence becoming more prominent, public and private schools alike are looking at hiring full-time police officers and security personnel to patrol campuses. This increase in school security has the legal system alarmed.
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De-stressing in the Office
Private School News // May 22, 2013
Summer is quickly approaching and although for many the additional sunshine and outdoor lunches are relaxing enough, for the typical school administrator, these seasonal luxuries bring very little comfort. It’s the end of the school year.
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Using Social Sites to Plan and Track Spring Sports: Security Risks You Need to Know
Private School News // May 22, 2013
Spring sports and outdoor activities are the highlights of the day for millions of students nationwide. For coaches and parents, however, hectic schedules can easily become overwhelming.
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Top Eight Employee Handbook Mistakes
Business and Operations // May 21, 2013
As you may know, a poorly written, outdated, or inconsistent handbook can hurt your school. In fact, omitting certain language can actually increase your risk of lawsuits or decrease your flexibility to act in the best interests of the school! Knowing that the stakes are high, updating your employee handbook can be a daunting project, especially if you’ve never done it before or if you don’t have any support or guidance to help you along the way. Don’t lose heart—it is an important task! Here are a few common mistakes to avoid as you dive in.
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Just a Few More Wellness Program Ideas
Business and Operations // May 21, 2013
A recent ISM study revealed that most schools don’t offer wellness plans. We found this interesting because wellness plans help control health insurance costs—they save organizations money! The healthier your employees, the fewer health claims. It’s that simple. And, wellness programs in themselves cost very little. Here are a few ideas to consider.
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Add Bling
Advancement // May 21, 2013
In a Webinar delivered to the team at Network for Good, technology guru Guy Kawasaki outlined his top ten social media tips for nonprofits. One of them is “add bling.” Huh? No, we are not talking about diamond-studded accessories here. We are talking visuals. Guy says add them—or a video—to every post.
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