The 2011–2012 school year has certainly been newsworthy. Bus accidents, bullying cases, and teacher/student sex scandals have made headlines and topped Twitter feeds throughout the year. It has been one tail-spinning year of risk management concerns. But, among these headlining topics, perhaps the most troubling stories have been those involving student sexual abuse.

The school year is winding down (or has already come to a close) and you’re looking forward to doing some planning in the less-harried atmosphere of summer. One of the things on your mind is next fall’s orientation program, we’re sure. Oh—it isn’t? Hmmm. Should it be? Actually … yes!

As the semester winds down, we know that your schedule ramps up—often without a moment to spare. Following our recent practice, we wanted to offer a selection of quick-and-to-the-point HR perspectives culled from recent Twitter and blog postings, to encourage and support you.

Earlier this month students in Wichita set out to illustrate the power of the Internet, and the fact that what you can say and do online can have far-reaching consequences by launching the “Wonder Who’s Watching?” campaign.

Blogs, forums, chat rooms, listservs—the choices go on and on. These can be valuable resources for finding alternative opinions and information about almost anything. From general private school news to just needing a quick laugh to fuel the rest of your day, blogs can remind you that you're not alone in the all-too often chaotic world of private-independent education.

Summer is nearly here. Although you’re campus is buzzing with excited graduating seniors and new student tours, you’re also gearing up for the down time that summer vacation bring. With some extra time to yourself, this is the perfect opportunity to make a dent in your reading wish list. Here are a few we recommend.

In the 20th century, the prime concern in scheduling was to fit everything in that adults thought was important, i.e., the classes and lunch. School was, indeed, a place where students and teachers rarely ran from one place to the other, and the schedule was just another organizational tool that helped keep everything in order. As the 20th century drew to its close and the 21st century dawned, the pace and activity of school dramatically increased. Expectations, mandates, requirements, parent demands, college competitiveness, and entrance, even economics, made traditional scheduling obsolete. The old concept of scheduling was no longer adequate to the task.

Students at Anacapa School in California have proven that conquering the final frontier is not reserved for the big space agencies like NASA or multimillionaire Richard Branson. On May 5, members of the Anacapa Near Space Exploration Club launched two payload capsules tethered to a weather balloon—and the on-board camera broadcast its path into near space.

Just because school is about to wrap up for the year doesn't mean admission work goes dormant. You most likely have some spaces to fill—or even a waiting pool to build. Potential families will be visiting your campus, so your challenge is to make your campus as attractive and lively as possible during the summer months. What will be lacking is the usual hustle and bustle of students and teachers, the living atmosphere that gives your campus its “vibe.” Here are a couple of tips to help put personality into your summer tours.

A critical element in your Board’s due diligence is keeping abreast of tax law as they relate to your school’s tax-exempt status. Most of the compliance requirements (e.g., record keeping, accounting functions financial statements) are handled at the school level, primarily in the Business Office and Development Office. However, the Board must also be acquainted with the rules concerning disclosure, conflict of interest, and other areas where your school may be at risk of losing its tax-exempt status.