Social media, social networking, and all the tools available for managing social sites progress at what seems like hyperspeed. New ones are born, old ones fade away, and some bloom into powerhouses that scream, "Why are you not using this yet? Everyone else is on here but YOU!" Whether you're using one site, or have pages on several social sites, you know that they take time, patience, and thought. You also know that some simply fit your personality and lifestyle better than others. We all have our favorites.

Finally, spring has arrived on the East coast! The first flowers have begun to pop their heads above soil, and trees are beginning to bud. Here at ISM, we've even begun working on our company garden. Most of us are glad to wave farewell to the cold, snowy weather. However, some of us are already struggling to get through the first few weeks of spring. It's allergy season! And, although the early spring flowers and trees are mesmeric to most, to a good portion of your students, staff, and faculty, they're a harsh reminder that their sniffles, swollen eyes, and itchy throats are going to plague them for the next eight weeks.

This is a copy of a letter sent to all of ISM's Insurance clients on March 23, 2010. You can read the full letter online by clicking here. As we're all aware, Congress passed historic healthcare reform legislation Sunday night when the US House voted for the Senate Bill that had been passed by the Senate last December. The President signed the bill into law on Tuesday morning. Now that the key elements of the bill are firmly in place (subject to a package of modifiers that the House also passed the "Reconciliation Bill" or "sidecar bill"), we want to offer a few quick thoughts and recommendations to our valued health clients.

Nowadays we demand convenience. As most households have two adults working full-time, and our children are busier than ever, we crave convenience wherever we can find it. Whether that be picking up our medications at the drive-thru, or depending on our microwaves to make dinner, we look for all the shortcuts we can to buy us at least a few minutes of peace—or even a few seconds.

A new research project that gives students smartphones to tackle algebra, geometry, and other math courses is showing measurable results. Students in a handful of North Carolina school districts are participating in Project K-Nect, which is grant-funded and was launched in 2007. Results from that first Algebra I group showed that the Project K-Nect students outperformed other Algebra I students at the school taught by the same teacher on the state end-of-year exam and on final grades. The 2008-09 survey showed similar results.

Do you—and everyone else—dread the all-faculty meeting? Are they seen as a waste of time, a necessary evil? It's time to refocus your meeting goals from strictly administrivia to professional development, esprit de corps and sense of purpose, mission, and strategic direction. Your meetings will become vibrant and valued elements of the faculty culture.

Many schools are now preparing annual faculty contract renewals. We'd like to offer a "tip" on a critical contract provision—"what happens if we need to end the contract during the school year?" This is a provision that is missing from many faculty contracts, and one that could cost the school dearly.

The status of health care reform is still uncertain as we go to "press" with this e-letter, as is its potential impact on the employee benefits provided by private-independent schools. One thing is clear, though: It has never been more important for employees to be well-informed about—and value—the benefits that your school provides. One way of educating and reinforcing employees about their benefits is through an annual benefits statement.

Q: We have an employee who is behaving very oddly. Can we "require" that they get counseling?

In this topsy-turvy economy, you may feel/notice signs of uneasiness from your Board. Your re-enrollment numbers may be up or down, as schools are reporting both, and you may be feeling the pressure. Although there are plenty of external factors, the Board may place responsibility for declining enrollment or lackluster fundraising squarely on your shoulders. Or, the Board has completely turned over during your tenure and it just may want to pick its own leader. Whatever the reason, the tenure for a Head can be too short! Here are 10 areas where you can self-evaluate, and improve to bolster your tenure.