Stay current with the latest private-independent school news.
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.
Search
See articles for School Heads, Business & Operations, Advancement, Academic Leadership, and Trustees, in addition to Private School News.
Test-Taking Technology Advances
Private School News // February 26, 2010
Technology continues to move at a lightning speed. Just when you think you've finally caught up, or better yet, moved ahead of the pack, something new comes ripping around technology corner—and everyone must, must, MUST have one/it!
Read More
Self-Harming Students: It's Not Trendy—It's Addictive
Private School News // February 26, 2010
Student self-harming behaviors are one of the most challenging obstacles for school administrators, teachers, nurses, and counselors. There's no clear conclusion on why some teens adopt such behaviors—only speculations. What is assured about self-harming adolescents is, if their habits are not treated, they can become severe—and often increasingly addictive.
Read More
Employee Benefit General Audit Questions
Private School News // February 26, 2010
The following information was provided by the AICPA Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center. These are examples of general questions that you can expect to be asked by your plan's independent auditor.
Read More
Keeping Your Work Space Organized
Private School News // February 26, 2010
The second half of the school year is always the most hectic. Now, it's benefit-renewal season, student-recruitment season, hiring season, contract-renewal season, and flu season. Regardless of what department you're in, chances are you're knee deep in paperwork and feeling all the typical stresses that this time of year brings.
Read More
Managing Your School's Social Media
Private School News // February 26, 2010
There's a growing number of private-independent schools venturing into the social media realm. What many schools are finding is it's a great resource—and free—for connecting with alumni as well as parents. However, social media is not something that can be done without thought, effort, and certainly time behind it. While it's not a full-time position, social media management can easily become a demanding part-time position that keeps one on his/her toes. And, if managed with care, it can be quite powerful.
Read More
Ask Michael
Business and Operations // February 25, 2010
Once a month, ISM's Human Resources Consultant Michael Brisciana will answer an HR-related question submitted by one of our readers. To ask Michael a question to be addressed in future e-letters, please click here.
Read More
A School Firing Case That Cost $1.5 Million
Business and Operations // February 25, 2010
Firing staff or faculty members is never a pleasant experience. If not done in compliance, however, it can be much more than unpleasant—it can cost your school thousands. They say, "it's not the crime, it's the cover-up" that gets you. In the employment law world, this can be altered to, "It's not the investigation, it's the retaliation that will cost you." This is evidenced by the following story that's recently come across our desks. (Thank you, Twitter!)
Read More
Once You've Seen It, It Becomes A Danger
Business and Operations // February 25, 2010
Social media has not just intrigued the marketing world, bridged gaps in communications, and infringed upon much of our free time—it has also created new ways for hiring teams to investigate candidates. This new insight to applicants comes with a huge warning sign however—it's a litigation risk.
Read More
It's Hiring Season—Know What Not to Ask
Academic Leadership // February 23, 2010
About now, many of you are involved in interviewing and offering positions to new faculty members. As you engage candidates in conversation during the interview, you need to step lightly, and remember that your questions should focus only on the individual's qualifications for the job. There are many areas, which you may casually ask about, that are "illegal" in the interview scenario. Some will come to mind right away—such as race, health, and age—as dangerous places to venture. But others you may casually trip into, not realizing questions about the person's organization memberships, residence, or family could be the foundation for a lawsuit. As our HR Consultant is fond of saying, "Polite conversation is dangerous."
Read More
Got a Handle on Peanut Allergies? What About Glutens?
Academic Leadership // February 23, 2010
There is a good chance your school has one or more children who live with peanut, or any kind of nut, allergies, either mild or severe. Common in schools are "peanut-free" lunchroom tables and a complete ban on any peanut products brought into schools. But there is another food intolerance that is coming to the forefront—the intolerance to glutens. Glutens may be more invasive than nut products, since they "hide" not only in foods but in other nonfood products.
Read More