GEDs on the Rise

Advancement // December 10, 2009

Research is showing that in areas hit hardest by the economic downturn, GED classes are on the rise, and filling up fast. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate for 16-to-19-year-olds was 21.5% in April. This is up from 15% a year before. As the unemployment rate continues to grow across all age brackets, adults desperate for any work to alleviate some of their financial burden are beating high school students out of jobs in places such as grocery stores, retail shops, and restaurants.

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How to Help Staff Members Address Personal Issues

Business and Operations // December 10, 2009

November is National Employee Recognition Month. One of the most important ways you can recognize your faculty and staff members is to provide resources that will aid them during these trying times. (Recognition Professionals International, a site run by a nonprofit group, has a wealth of ideas and resources regarding effective employee recognition efforts.) After layoffs, salary reductions, and the like, employers are looking into ways to offer relief for employees who are still on board and dedicated to seeing their organization through these times.

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Packing a Healthy Picnic Basket

Business and Operations // December 10, 2009

Summer's incredibly outdoor friendly weather may inspire you to spend some time lounging on a blanket with a picnic basket full of tasty snacks, a good book, and a few of your favorite people. Make some promises to yourself this summer—go light on the chips and sugary treats, and stock up on fresh fruits and veggies. It doesn't matter if you're oceanfront, lakeside, or relaxing in your local park or even your own backyard—reward yourself with the season's fresh treats. (We know you've worked hard all year.)

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Swine Flu Vaccine: Balancing the Possible Side Effects Versus the Rewards

Advancement // December 10, 2009

Finally, the H1N1 vaccine is available! And people are scrambling to their doctors' offices, local clinics, and drug stores to wait their turn to receive it as the virus and panic continues to spread across most of the nation. (Click here to see which states are reporting widespread H1N1 cases.) But wait; is preventing the swine flu worth the side effects? And what risks if any would a school be exposed to if it required shots?

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Financial Aid

School Heads // December 10, 2009

Financial aid is the most proactive method that schools have to help children attend their schools. For many, though, evaluating financial need is often very difficult—the paperwork, the stress, and trying to match available funds to evident need are just part of the complexities that comprise the typical financial aid decision-making process. However, a proactive, organized approach to financial aid can ease the process significantly. Use these suggestions before your first applications arrive and you'll be ahead of the game.

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Be Prepared for the Resurgence of H1N1

Business and Operations // December 10, 2009

It's predicted that the swine flu will remerge this fall as cooler temperatures settle into typical regions. If your school doesn't have an action plan in place for an epidemic, now is the time to act.

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Teen Self Esteem

School Heads // December 10, 2009

According to a series of recent studies conducted by researchers at Columbia University's Teachers College, many of today's unhappiest teens probably made the honor roll last semester and plan to attend prestigious universities. The studies found that adolescents raised in suburban homes that have an average family income of $120,000 report higher rates of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse than any other socioeconomic group of young Americans today.

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One of a Business Manager's Many Hats: Warding Off the Investigators (or, "10 Key Facts You Need to Know About Overtime Regulations")

Business and Operations // December 10, 2009

Business Managers have one of the most demanding positions among all school administrators. You wear many hats—even some hats you may have never been trained to wear. A Human Resource Manager (or labor law expert) hat might be one of these.

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Long Term Disability (Part Two)

School Heads // December 10, 2009

Basic LTD Benefits Maximum monthly benefits should be negotiable. A maximum monthly benefit of $5,000 provides full-policy coverage (at 60% of salary) for any employee making $100,000 or less. To provide benefit coverage for administrators on earnings of more than $100,000 per year, consider raising the maximum monthly benefit to $6,000, $7,500, or even $10,000. Many policies have guaranteed minimum benefits as well. Look for a minimum benefit that is the greater of a specific dollar figure ($50 or $100 is common) or a specified percentage of the normal gross monthly benefit. This will give higher-salaried employees a significantly greater minimum monthly benefit.  

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Securing Your School

Academic Leadership // December 10, 2009

Over the past few years, there has been an alarming rise in the amount of violent incidents in schools. And while it may be unsettling to think about, schools must do everything in their power to prevent the "unthinkable" from happening. While the following recommendations are by no means a complete checklist of all school security procedures that should be reviewed, they are an important first step toward this end.

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