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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?
Check out Community Corner, a free blog 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.
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See articles for School Heads, Business & Operations, Advancement, Academic Leadership, and Trustees, in addition to Private School News.
Protecting Yourself From What Everyone Else Is Sharing: Sniffles, Sneezes, and Coughs
Business and Operations // January 17, 2014
We’ve made it past the holiday season and straight into the time of the year when the flu bug is what’s being shared. It’s a big change from just a month ago when everything was merry and bright! In fact, if you’re one of the unfortunate ones on the flu bug's list, merry and bright is the exact opposite of what you’re feeling. If you’re lucky enough to have so far avoided catching what everyone else seems to be wrestling with, chances are you’re surrounded by sneezing, sniffling, and coughing co-workers. Wearing a facemask and inflating a plastic bubble around your desk may help to keep those nasty germs at bay, but there are other ways you can protect yourself—and your unaffected faculty, staff, and students.
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Q&A With ISM’s Risk Manager
Business and Operations // January 17, 2014
Q: If a family sues our school, is there any coverage under our D&O policy?
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Your School's Statement of Philosophy
Board of Trustees // January 16, 2014
ISM has long recommended that a school’s mission statement be short, memorable, and distinctive—distinguishing the school from its public and private competition. The mission statement should be as much a marketing and public relations tool as a guide to internal decision-making. However, there is one other key, complementary document that helps define your school—a statement of philosophy.
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Keeping Former Trustees in the "Loop"
Board of Trustees // January 16, 2014
Your Board bylaws should place a limit on the number of consecutive terms that a Trustee may serve. Unfortunately, Trustees who leave the Board often immediately lose touch with their school. As a consequence, some of the most committed and able people may well lose interest and never consider renomination to the Board. Take steps to keep Trustees who are in their “off” years involved—perhaps to serve again in the future.
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Must-Reads for the Admission Office in 2014
Advancement // January 9, 2014
New Year’s Day has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add a resolution to your list! We’ve spoken with admission professionals across the country and our ISM Consultants, and here are books Admission Officers have recommended to their peers.
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Tour Dos and Don'ts
Advancement // January 9, 2014
The winter season has definitely arrived and so has tour season! Soon, you will play host to prospective parents and their children. Keep reading to find some dos—and don’ts!—for your visitor programs to guarantee a successful season.
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Whose Responsibility is Health Care?
Business and Operations // January 6, 2014
Before 2009, the majority of Americans polled said the Federal Government should take responsibility for ensuring that all citizens have health care. Now, as the January deadline for all persons to be enrolled in a health plan rings past, 56% of polled Americans say it’s not the government’s duty to get involved with health care.
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Ask ISM’s Health Care Reform Specialist
Business and Operations // January 6, 2014
Q: I am a small employer with less than 25 employees. Part of our employee contract says that we will provide health insurance. However, since only two people are participating in this plan, the insurance company will not renew our policy. What are my school’s options for these two individuals?
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Making Room for Facebook
Business and Operations // January 6, 2014
In your tight budget, finding money for Facebook advertisements that your Admission and Development Office request might be one of your creative (and financial) challenges. In fact, you might even doubt the need to pay for Facebook ads when the real power behind social media is found in the organic results generated by your followers seeing your messages and notices in their feeds.
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Racial Diversity at Sundance Film Festival
Private School News // January 3, 2014
There’s a noteworthy new documentary on the block, American Promise, that premiered at Sundance Film Festival 2013 and went on to air on PBS. The film follows Idris Brewster and Seun Summers, two African-American boys, when they begin their first year of kindergarten at Dalton, a prestigious private-independent school in New York City. Both boys struggle with learning disabilities, disciplinary problems, and failing grades, despite early indicators of high academic potential.
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