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.
When Is the "Right" Time to End a Departing Employee's Health Benefits?
Private School News // May 27, 2010
As the school year winds down, the question often arises, "When should we end health insurance coverage for faculty who aren't returning next year?" The answer depends on what is written in your contract with the insurance carrier as well as how your employment contracts are structured.
Read More
Social Media: Weighing the Risks
Private School News // May 27, 2010
Since the fall, we've written a good amount about social media and school policies. In fact, we even released a storybook and postcard series alerting schools to the risks of using social media to screen applicants—which seems to be the latest fad in the HR world—Risk #86: Curiosity Sued the School. But, just as there are risks associated with social media, there are tons of positives, too. Let's weigh a few of the pros and cons again as a refresher before summer sweeps our focused thoughts under the shade.
Read More
The Bullying Epidemic
Academic Leadership // May 25, 2010
The suicide of 15-year-old Phoebe Prince—attributed to relentless, vicious bullying by a group of fellow students—has once again put an exclamation point on a problem that is rampant with youth today. In the Prince case, the community has been torn apart—citizens demanding justice for Phoebe, the police attempting to conduct a thorough investigation while they simmered, indictments for the alleged bullies, parents being charged, and fingers pointed at the high school's faculty and staff who knew of the bullying.
Read More
Just a Cool New Gadget? Some Thoughts on the iPad
Academic Leadership // May 25, 2010
Just a big iPod Touch. Just a big iPhone. Just a big gaming device. And that name. You are probably hearing all these things about the latest release from Apple, the iPad—the company's new e-tablet. But just walk into an Apple retail store (if you can manage to get in—even at the height of the recession, the place was always mobbed), wait your turn, and then belly up to one of the dozen or more iPads on display.
Read More
Ask Michael
Business and Operations // May 21, 2010
Q: We issue contracts to all faculty members and some (but not all) administrators and staff. We're thinking of eliminating contracts for administrators. What issues does this raise?
Read More
Teen Texting Addictions Can Inhibit Their Sleep
Advancement // May 21, 2010
Let's come out and say this first—text messaging is NOT the root of all evil. And, it's certainly not the only reason why teens are sleep deprived. It is, however, a major contributor to the issue. Teens need an average of nine hours of sleep each night. However, if you take into consideration all the activities, homework, chores, and social networking "required" of the average teenager, that hardly leaves six hours dedicated to sleep, let alone the recommended nine hours.
Read More
Part One: Top 12 HR Tips and Action Items for Summer 2010
Business and Operations // May 21, 2010
As school is already out for the summer in some parts of the country (and rapidly wrapping up in most other regions), we wanted to offer a "Top 12" list of tips and "action items" to help you enhance your HR practices this summer. We'll present the first six in this edition and the final six in next month's e-Letter before taking a break for the summer.
Read More
Admitting Children With Same Sex Parents
Advancement // May 21, 2010
If an application for a new student with same-sex parents came across your desk, would it affect your decision on whether or not to admit the child? A private Catholic school in Hingham, MA, is currently dealing with this sensitive issue—and the school administrators are finding themselves at the center of a heated local debate.
Read More
Full Steam Ahead! The Game Changer for 21st Century Schools
School Heads // May 14, 2010
In the Spring 2010 edition of Independent School, NAIS writes persuasively and interestingly in the article, "A Game-Changing Model for Financially Sustainable Schools." ISM has written a commentary that agrees that the "game changer" will be seen within the finances of schools; however, ISM argues that finances are the wrong focus for understanding what the change is.
Read More
Just a Cool New Gadget? Some Thoughts on the iPad
School Heads // May 14, 2010
Just a big iPod Touch. Just a big iPhone. Just a big gaming device. And that name. You are probably hearing all these things about the latest release from Apple, the iPad—the company's new e-tablet. But just walk into an Apple retail store (if you can manage to get in—even at the height of the recession, the place was always mobbed), wait your turn, and then belly up to one of the dozen or more iPads on display.
Read More