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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.
Trip and Volunteer Protocols
Business and Operations // February 27, 2013
Spring is right around the corner. With warmer weather, field trips are likely to start springing up on calendars in an effort to connect theory and practice. With any off-site trip, you need to follow safety policies to reduce risks. This is a good time to review your school’s policies for faculty and volunteers accompanying students off campus. Start by defining what a field trip is. Some schools consider any event that takes students off-site as a field trip, while others define them as travel greater than 10 miles from campus. Once you have your school’s definition determined, the following guidelines may help you polish your school’s protocols.
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Revising Antiharassment and E-Mail Policies
Business and Operations // February 27, 2013
Sexting—sending or receiving sexually explicit images or texts—incidents have been on the rise since 2008. In 2010, sexting concerns in schools started making headlines on a regular basis. Now in 2013, schools are still trying to gain control of harassment lawsuits and negative media. The truth is, no one in your school has the power to control each individual. You will never be able to eliminate the risk completely. But you can protect your school by revising antiharassment and e-mail policies to include cell phones, cameras, IMs, and texts. Whether you have one policy that covers both students and employees or separate policies for employees and students, it needs to be updated to reflect new risks that these devices represent.
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Architecture to Inspire, Attract, and Promote Wellness
Business and Operations // February 27, 2013
Optimizing your schools space takes a considerable amount of thought, meditation, and planning. Adequate space is valuable—especially for inner-city schools. Well-planned space that incorporates green spaces as well as modern adaptations for 21st Century learning inspires, motivates, and promotes the learning environment not just for your students, but also for your school’s faculty and staff.
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Financial Aid Award Notifications
Advancement // February 27, 2013
Financial aid applications are rolling in. Formulas are being tested. Your committee is working in overdrive, reviewing and organizing applicants. Decisions are being made. Final decisions are being made. Now, it’s time to send out notifications to those receiving financial aid, and to those not qualifying.
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D&O Q&A
Business and Operations // February 27, 2013
Q: I have a good idea what type of claims employees can bring against schools (for wrongful termination, harassment, and the like). What type of claims do you see parents bringing against schools? Do Directors & Officers (D&O) policies generally cover these claims?
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Green Corner: Where Does Your City Rank With GHG? Emissions
Business and Operations // February 27, 2013
Attention science lovers: The EPA recently released a report on 2012 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from large facilities around the nation. It is important to note that this report does not reflect total US GHG emissions, but yet demonstrates findings based on reporting facilities.
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How to Virally Market Through the Clutter
Advancement // February 27, 2013
Getting your school’s message out there is easy. Getting your school’s message heard through the clutter of everyone else’s is the tricky part.
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Zero Tolerance and Young Children: What’s the Common-Sense Answer?
Academic Leadership // February 20, 2013
Since the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary school in Connecticut, school administrators and parents are on edge. The tragedy has thrust gun control and school security issues to the forefront of the national conversation, and zero-tolerance policies are once again in the news.
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A Lincoln Teaching Tool, Courtesy of Hollywood
Academic Leadership // February 20, 2013
Daniel Day Lewis’s striking portrayal of Abraham Lincoln as he works the political maze to pass the 13th amendment to outlaw slavery and involuntary servitude in the film Lincoln will be coming to all public and private school middle and high schools as soon as the DVD hits stores.
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Ask Michael
Business and Operations // February 18, 2013
Q: I’m the Business Manager/HR person for a midsize school (50 employees). I’d like to automate our HR record-keeping functions, and I’ve started to look into what our payroll provider offers. Is there a software program or vendor that you would recommend?
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