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July/August 2003

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

• Practical PR: Communication eases mind-boggling finances by Jennifer Bialobok

• NCLB consequences present challenge by Carl W. Smith
  School boards must step up to the challenge and make No Child Left Behind work, but they also need to step up pressure on Congress to amend the legislation or make it a funded mandate.

• Challenge to boards: Support funding change by Gina Schlosser
  A board president issues a challenge to other districts: Speak up to state legislators about what education needs in terms of funding changes.

• Journey to reform faces fuel shortage by Linda Dawson
  Finding money to continue reform efforts is a big question mark, but the Decatur school board remains committed to sustaining progress made during the past five years.
     Sidebar: Model glossary
     Sidebar: NEA president faults policy choices

• Measures short on follow-through by Albert T. Azinger and Paul J. Baker
  Six years after adoption of mandated Illinois Learning Standards, results appear to be meager in expected achievement gains. The fault may lie not with the standards themselves but with districts not making full use of this reform tool.
     Sidebar: State standards drive Arcadia Expo

• Preventing violence at the school level by Sherwood C. Dees
  Ten suggestions any district could implement offer a "next step" following a national report that stops short of any advice on how to prevent violence at school.

• The consolidation divide: Financial pressures magnify arguments by Alan Ehrenhalt
  If consolidation efforts are all about saving money, then they should be "sold" that way, not with claims of student benefits from larger schools.

• Reconciling expenses for board development by Linda Dawson
  Could you explain the "why" and "at what cost" if you were asked about annual conference expenses? These answers may help.