ethanporcaro/eric-fulltext-meta huggingface dataset:
Save Energy Dollars with DOE Operations and Maintenance Guide
Author: Appel, Margo
Date: 2010-03-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Maintenance,Energy Conservation,Energy Management,Boards of Education,Administrators,Administrator Responsibility,School Business Officials,Lighting,Heat,Budgets

At budget-crunching time, school administrators and business officials sometimes find themselves trimming the district's budget for teachers, textbooks, and technology in order to cover ballooning energy costs. Nearly one-third of the energy consumed in the average U.S. school is wasted. The country's least efficient schools use four times more energy per square foot than the most efficient schools. Clearly, schools are spending a lot of money that can be redirected to their primary mission: education. Because strong operations and maintenance (O&M) programs play such a vital role in school energy efficiency, the U.S. Department of Energy released the "Guide to Operating and Maintaining EnergySmart Schools." Developed as a resource of the Department of Energy's EnergySmart Schools Program, it is designed to help districts integrate energy-efficient practices into their O&M programs and to fit O&M into their broad mission and into their overall energy management plan. The guide includes sections that are useful to school board members, senior administrators, business officials, and facilities managers and staff.
Prescription Program Provides Significant Savings
Author: Rowan, James M.
Date: 2010-03-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Public Policy,Cost Effectiveness,School Districts,Pharmacy,Health Insurance,Teacher Employment Benefits,Fringe Benefits,School Personnel

Most school districts today are looking for ways to save money without decreasing services to its staff. Retired pharmacist Tim Sylvester, a lifelong resident of Alpena Public Schools in Alpena, Michigan, presented the district with a pharmaceuticals plan that would save the district money without raising employee co-pays for prescriptions. The prescription program works essentially the same way as most medical programs. It starts with a preferred-provider network of local pharmacies, but it also has a wraparound network of more than 55,000 pharmacies nationwide. The author discusses how the program provides significant savings.
Your Retirement Nest Egg: A Goose Egg or a Golden Goose
Author: Stein, Lawrence
Date: 2010-03-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Retirement,Insurance,Resource Allocation,Money Management,Taxes,Risk,Income

For years, people have been taught that maintaining liquidity of assets, particularly at retirement, is beneficial. One's liquidity, that is, monies he/she controls and has ready access to for discretionary withdrawals, translates into uncertainty to the company holding those assets because they can be withdrawn at any time. If one can increase a depository's certainty, for example, by assuring it that monies won't be withdrawn for five years, it will pay him/her a bonus. Insurance companies likewise will pay for certainty. With fixed-term annuities, the insurance company will pay a guaranteed attractive rate of return for a predetermined length of time, as opposed to a "life" annuity based on one's actuarial life expectancy. If a person is approaching retirement, he/she needs to find the optimal payout product (or combination of products) that meets his/her family's needs. The author stresses that by using innovative and creative approaches to retirement planning, people can allocate their retirement account values to a series of fixed-term annuities that are layered to maximize their monthly payouts, maximize tax efficiencies, and eliminate any risk of market collapse.
Religious Music and Public Schools: A Harbinger of Litigation to Come?
Author: Russo, Charles J.
Date: 2010-03-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Public Schools,Music,Graduation,Religion,Constitutional Law,Court Litigation,Student Rights,State Church Separation

Debate continues over the place of religious expression, including music, in public schools. In "Nurre v. Whitehead" (2009), a high school senior in Washington sued the superintendent for denying the wind ensemble that she was part of the opportunity to perform an instrumental version of "Ave Maria" at her commencement ceremony due to its religious connotations. Due to the threat of litigation over the place of religious music at graduations and other activities, the author suggests that school business officials and other education leaders must be careful to balance the rights of all involved. In so doing, as suggested by the partial dissent in "Nurre", educators must consider whether forbidding the use of religious music in schools is likely to stifle student expression. At the same time, while seeking to comply with the First Amendment's requirement that school officials "make no law respecting an establishment of religion," educators must be equally as careful to avoid the charge that the student raised in "Nurre", namely, that the superintendent was hostile to religion.
Working with Your Legislative Delegation
Author: Safransky, Robert J.
Date: 2010-03-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Program Implementation,Boards of Education,Educational Legislation,School Districts,Legislators,Educational Finance,Financial Support,Superintendents,Mass Media,Meetings

In this article, the author discusses how to work with legislative delegation to get positive legislation passed. Most school districts have a person who is responsible for working with the legislators and informing them of the district's position on bills and issues that arise in each legislative session. Even if one has a full-time or part-time lobbyist representing one's district's interests, one can do much to energize the people and organizations in one's district to partner with school board in presenting the needs to the legislative delegation. The author offers tips in working with legislative delegation.
Public School Districts Master the Online Learning Game
Author: Horn, Michael
Date: 2010-04-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Electronic Learning,Charter Schools,Elementary Secondary Education,Distance Education,Online Courses,School Districts,Computer Uses in Education,Public Schools,Costs,Community Involvement

Online learning made its debut in higher education, but now it's changing the face of K-12 education. According to the marketing research firm Ambient Insight, roughly 1.75 million K-12 students in the United States are enrolled in at least one online course. Although much of the online learning growth in K-12 first occurred in virtual charter schools that served home-schooled students and in state virtual schools that provided courses to supplement the offerings available to students at their local high school, this scenario is beginning to change. Public school districts are no longer sitting on the sidelines. In the 2009 report Keeping Pace with K-12 Online Learning, published by the Evergreen Education Group, Gregg Levin, vice president of KC Distance Learning, explains: &quot;Across the country, strong demand for online learning is pushing it from a fringe offering to a strategic imperative for districts. This is likely being driven by the growing popularity of statewide virtual charter schools, increasing acceptance of online learning for all populations of students, and its cost-effectiveness during tough economic times.&quot; This article presents an Innosight Institute case study of Utah's Alpine School District which helps shed light on this trend and reveals some exciting opportunities for public school districts and the U.S. education system.
The All-Digital Classroom: Full Speed Ahead!
Author: McGrath, Julia
Date: 2010-04-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Educational Technology,Computer Uses in Education,Technology Integration,Internet,Computer Networks,Teaching Methods,Cost Effectiveness

Keeping up with the latest technology has never been easy, and in these times of budget tightening, it can be tough to find a good deal. Many schools have taken a long, hard look at their technology infrastructure and found it no longer meets the needs of today's digital classroom. Multimedia learning resources are now part of school districts' core curricula, and teachers are understandably eager to integrate on-demand multimedia content into their lesson plans. Amid the positive changes going on in the classroom, a new technology called Metro Ethernet promises to help schools continue to expand their digital classrooms and increase data bandwidth at a lower price point. Ethernet is the networking technology that links computers and servers over a LAN (local-area network), such as within a school. Fast and flexible, Ethernet's reach has extended over time to encompass entire metropolitan areas, and it is already one of the services of choice in the government, health care, and finance sectors. As digital classroom initiatives continue to form part of core curricula, more school telecommunication requests for proposals are emerging for these Metro Ethernet services that can deliver the bandwidth needed by multimedia applications. The author offers tips in finding a right Metro Ethernet service provider.
Privacy Concerns: The Effects of the Latest FERPA Changes
Author: Cossler, Christine
Date: 2010-04-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Student Records,School Safety,Courts,Privacy,School Districts,Access to Information,School Business Officials,Federal Legislation,Childrens Rights,Civil Rights,Accountability,Laws

Privacy, something once taken for granted, has again become top-of-mind for public school districts thanks to technology's increasing reach, as well as new changes to privacy laws governing student information. Recently, educators have had to face important changes to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), originally signed into law in 1974. As school business officials are more than aware, FERPA has a twofold purpose: (1) to ensure that parents have access to their children's education records; and (2) to protect the privacy rights of both parents and children by limiting access to those records without parental consent. The latest round of amendments to this 35-year-old law went into effect on January 8, strengthening some areas of privacy and clarifying others. Many of these amendments codify positions taken by courts over the years in interpreting FERPA, while other amendments impose new requirements. All changes affect how school districts must handle such issues as school safety, access to education data for research and accountability, and the safeguarding of education records. This article discusses the most recent FERPA changes and provides information on how to stay within the law when a person receives a public records request or when other issues arise pertaining to the privacy of the district's education records.
The Economic Impact of Pre-Owned Textbooks
Author: Anders, Park
Date: 2010-04-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Expenditures,Textbooks,Educational Finance,Economic Impact,Instructional Materials,Economic Climate,School Districts,Elementary Secondary Education

The costs associated with education outpace inflation every year, more than doubling it over the past 20 years. The latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics calculate that school expenditures from all funding sources topped $400 billion for the 2006-2007 school year. Only 3% of these expenditures are earmarked for instructional materials, including textbooks. For decades, school districts have saved money by providing students with used books, but the strategy is particularly relevant today. Escalating book prices combined with the economy's effect on funding are driving interest in more affordable learning materials. As a result, the demand for pre-owned textbooks is increasing as schools struggle to provide the books their students need as economically as possible. Buying used textbooks and selling unwanted books are two strategies for dealing with the current lack of education funding. Students get the books they need, and the district can operate more efficiently in a challenging economic climate.
Lessons in Innovative Funding for District Improvements
Author: McDaniel, Gwenn
Date: 2010-04-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Educational Facilities Planning,Performance Contracts,Energy Conservation,Creative Thinking,Community Support,School Districts,Instructional Leadership,Resource Allocation,Educational Finance,Educational Facilities Improvement,Innovation

Near the shores of Lake Superior, Michigan's Houghton-Portage Township School District is known for academic leadership and strives to provide an exceptional and secure learning environment for its students. However, like many districts around the country, Houghton-Portage is not immune to the economic restrictions. In a recent effort to address the need for facility improvements, technology upgrades, and overall energy efficiency, the district had to be imaginative when it came to funding. By using some creative thinking and leveraging community support, the district funded school improvements through a performance contract coupled with a voted bond referendum, the first of its kind in the state of Michigan. In this article, the author discusses how the district developed an innovative funding model to meet the community's expectations and shares lessons in innovative funding for district improvements.
Leaders Hit the Battlefield for Education's Future: 2009 Eagle Institute
Author: Verardi, Nicole
Date: 2010-04-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Leadership,School Business Officials,Conferences (Gatherings),Transformative Learning,Historical Interpretation,Intellectual History,Leadership Training,Educational Planning

More than 40 esteemed school business officials traveled to Washington, D.C., for the 2009 Eagle Institute which was held on July 14-17. They examined the past and the future to uncover leadership insights. Eagle Institute participants shared a powerful experience of camaraderie, reflection, and optimism for the future. This article describes the lessons in leadership learned by the Eagle Institute participants. Now that they know where they've been and where they're going, they can lead with a new perspective at a time when their communities need their strong leadership.
Controversy over the Pledge of Allegiance Continues
Author: Russo, Charles J.
Date: 2010-04-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Parent Rights,Civil Rights,Constitutional Law,Court Litigation,Student Rights,School Business Officials,Parent Attitudes,Religion,State Church Separation

This article discusses the steady stream of litigation that emerged shortly after the Pledge of Allegiance was introduced in 1892. The constitutionality of requiring students to take part in its daily recitation in schools continues to be challenged. Parents who objected to the statute and the words "under God" in the pledge filed suit, alleging that the phrase violated the rights of their children under the establishment and free exercise clauses of the First Amendment, as well as their due process and equal protection rights under the Fourteenth Amendment. The plaintiffs also claimed that the recitation of the pledge violated their parental rights to raise their children in accord with their own beliefs. The parents, who identified themselves as atheists or agnostics, sought an order preventing school officials from complying with a state statute. As courts discuss "under God" in the pledge, judges must examine the effect that striking down the pledge might have on American schools and society as a whole in terms of what it means for national unity. Put another way, might the public lose respect for the judiciary as an institution if it were to strike down the pledge? As disputes over the words "under God" play themselves out, the courts will be on the front line of sustaining long-held traditions, such as recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance or setting in motion further conflict that will affect the day-to-day activities of school business officials and other education leaders who are charged with educating the nation's students.
A Sustainable and Holistic Approach to Design and Construction
Author: Bobadilla, Leo
Date: 2010-05-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Educational Facilities Design,Energy Conservation,Holistic Approach,School Districts,Facility Guidelines,Educational Facilities,Learning Experience,Lighting,Cost Effectiveness,Sustainable Development,Costs,Construction (Process),Middle Schools,School Construction,Heat

Building energy-efficient school facilities is not just about being &quot;green.&quot; It is about providing high-performance facilities that are safe, healthy, and conducive to learning. It is also about building facilities that are cost-effective from their inception and in the long term. Many school districts are working under ever-tightening budgets, so reduced operating costs are welcomed. With careful planning, facilities and construction departments can build schools that encourage learning, reduce long-term operating costs, and lessen the effect on the environment while controlling up-front construction costs. The keys are including staff as active participants in the process and using a holistic approach to facility design. Guilford County Schools in North Carolina is an example of a district that was able to build a high-performance school that continually saves money. Northern Guilford Middle School is a $20.7 million facility serving 1,030 students. At two years old, it is beginning to show the long-term benefits of energy efficiency with lower electric bills and reduced water use. The school district wanted to use taxpayer dollars wisely while building a sustainable facility and creating a three-dimensional learning experience for students. During the planning and construction of Northern Guilford, the district's facilities staff worked with the architects to develop a holistic design for the school, detailing how the lighting, heating, cooling, and other systems would work together in the building. School districts can construct efficient buildings and lower energy expenses without greater up-front costs. This article offers some points school districts should remember as they develop plans to build high performance schools.
Midcentury Modern High Schools: Rebooting the Architecture
Author: Havens, Kevin
Date: 2010-05-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: High Schools,Architecture,School Expansion,Educational Facilities Improvement,Systems Approach,Creative Thinking,Technological Advancement,Technology Uses in Education,Adjustment (to Environment)

A high school is more than a building; it's a repository of memories for many community members. High schools built at the turn of the century are not only cultural and civic landmarks, they are also often architectural treasures. When these facilities become outdated, a renovation that preserves the building's aesthetics and character is usually the preferred option. Today, the post-Gothic &quot;generation&quot; of high schools built in the 1950s and 1960s are often in disrepair and unsuitable for the needs of 21st-century students. Unlike their predecessors, however, these schools are not architectural icons; most are worn, drab, and dated. Yet many community members still consider these buildings &quot;their schools&quot; and strongly oppose their demolition. This loyalty factor, combined with the higher costs of new construction, has spurred a flurry of activity in the renovation of midcentury modern high schools. Although midcentury modern high schools seem hopelessly outdated to the casual observer, they have the potential for openness and flexibility that makes them ideal candidates for renovation. This article describes the renovations of Addison Trail, Naperville Central, and Willowbrook High Schools in Illinois which involved a &quot;reboot&quot; of the existing architecture into alignment with current educational requirements. A primary goal was to reconfigure spaces in ways that would contribute to students' learning and the vitality of campus life.
Replacement vs. Renovation: The Reincarnation of Hubble Middle School
Author: Ogurek, Douglas J.
Date: 2010-05-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Educational Facilities Improvement,Educational Facilities Design,Educational Facilities Planning,Energy Conservation,School Construction,School Buildings,Program Descriptions,Case Studies,Middle Schools,Educational Environment

At the original Hubble Middle School, neither the views (a congested Roosevelt Road and glimpses of downtown Wheaton) nor the century-old facility that offered them was very inspiring. Built at the start of the 20th century, the 250,000-square-foot building was converted from Wheaton Central High School to Hubble Middle School in the early 1980s. The age, size, and design of the facility led to a host of obstacles. Inefficiencies surfaced in student transportation, educational programs, and energy expenditures. A decade of discussions about solving these issues culminated in a planning study, which revealed that building a new facility would be a much more budget- and student-centered solution than renovating the existing one. Big old Hubble Middle School was just too big and too old. This article describes the reincarnation of Hubble Middle School.
Build a School, Inspire a Community
Author: Bowen-Eggebraaten, Mary
Date: 2010-05-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: School Districts,Sustainable Development,Community Development,Building Design,School Buildings,School Community Relationship,Educational Environment,Sustainability,School Construction,Elementary Schools,Partnerships in Education

When River Crest Elementary School opened on September 2, 2008, it was clear that the effect of a &quot;green&quot; school would extend beyond the students who walked through the doors for class each day. The 93,450-square-foot facility in Hudson, Wisconsin, serves as a catalyst for sustainable change and has been an educational tool for ecofriendly behavior in the community. River Crest's role goes beyond being &quot;just a school&quot; and offers a blueprint worthy of duplication. The Hudson School District Board of Education and administration chose to incorporate sustainability into the design and construction of their new elementary school. They knew it was the right thing to do. From this inaugural decision, they launched a green movement and commitment to sustainability. The enthusiasm expressed by River Crest staff, students, and parents spread across the district as greater emphasis was placed on learning about and practicing sustainability. The &quot;tipping point&quot; came as the Hudson community began to recognize River Crest as the standard or model for construction in the area. River Crest is the Hudson School District's sixth elementary school but its first to be designed and constructed using sustainability principles. This article describes a few of the sustainable highlights of the design and construction.
Creating Good Schools--What if?
Author: Sanders, Tim
Date: 2010-05-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Energy Conservation,Sustainability,Recycling,Cost Effectiveness,Change Strategies,Organizational Change,Energy Management,Health Behavior,Educational Facilities Improvement

Done right, green is not only the right thing to do, it's a good business move. During the past year, the author has talked with quite a few school business officials. Some are on board with "going green," whereas others are still leery. Some aren't quite sure what "green schools" are. Some say that it doesn't matter to the community how green the school is, that going green is expensive, and that this is a bad time to increase expenses. Some point out that their business charter as a school is to deliver an education and that the concept of healthy green schools lies just outside that boundary, making it a "good economic times" luxury. In this article, the author shows these skeptics how a school can do well by doing good. The key is to understand the proper sequence of the four Rs of going green: (1) reduce; (2) reuse; (3) recycle; and (4) replace.