SCHOOL BOARD NEWSBULLETIN - November/December 2009

Here is a Table of Contents for the November/December 2009 issue of Illinois School Board Journal. Highlighted articles are available here in full-text form. For other articles get in touch with:

IASB Publications
2921 Baker Drive
Springfield 62703
217/528-9688, extension 1131

• Myths of poverty: Realities for students
  by Alice Armstrong
  Not all children living in poverty struggle in school, but current economic realities may result in more stress on schools to help all students achieve.
  Sidebar: IASB offers workshop resources

• Avoid these pitfalls in teacher union contracts
  by George M. Kohut
  In the conclusion of a two-part series, an assistant superintendent with negotiations experience shows how innocent-sounding contract language can spell disaster for a district.

• 'Fieldbook' is new resource for governance practices
  by John Cassel
  Two experienced Illinois superintendents have written a book to outline best practices to achieving school board excellence.

• Let's put fears to rest on common standards
  by Wayne J. Lueders
  The Common Core State Standards Initiative may be the best chance to prepare students for 21st century demands.

• A baker's dozen ways for improvement now
  by Walter H. Warfield
  Even in times of economic difficulty, school boards can adopt strategies for improvement...13 of which cost little or nothing.

• Partnership provides tutoring, saves money
  by Tamara Korenman and Eileen Quinn Knight
  High schools need tutors...college students need interaction with students. What's better than a partnership to bring these two groups together and save money in doing it?

• Growing pains: Financing public costs with development fees.
  by Walter J. Zukowski and James Peters
  The faster the growth in a district the greater the potential for financial problems if the district isn't proactive in seeking help from municipalities and developers.

• Is a town hall meeting right for your district?
  by Bradley V. Balch and James W. Hanna
  Before scheduling a town hall meeting, school boards must be prepared to answer two important questions.

• Case studies merge theory with practice
  by Alan E. Simon
  School board members could use situational analysis to better understand the ramifications of their actions.

• Ask the staff: Speaking with 'one voice' shouldn't stifle opinion answered
  Answered by Linda Dawson