Saving school budgets in a recession
Buying from large group contracts, aligning budgets with school improvement plans, starting an educational foundation, and mastering the art of passing school bond issues were among the strategies for surviving the current fiscal crisis discussed at the American Association of School Administrators’ annual conference in San Francisco Feb. 19.
Key words: school budgets, school budget cuts, schools and recession
Colleges find new uses for open-source tech
Open-source learning management systems such as Moodle and Sakai have made great inroads in higher education, but LMS software isn’t the only area where colleges and universities are benefiting from open source. Higher-ed institutions also are saving money by using open-source software to chat with prospective students, improve library storage and research, and create web pages for alumni–whose donations could prove critical while campus budgets are being slashed in a down economy. Key words: open source content management, open source code, marist college, blackboard academic, albion college.
AASA 2009 will help guide administrators in a troubled economy
The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) 2009 Conference on Education, which runs Feb. 19-21 in San Francisco, promises to offer administrators a wealth of information and ideas for districts of any size.
AASA speakers will focus on district improvement
Speakers at AASA General Sessions are selected to build administrators’ vision of the future and to explore how global trends, advancements in science, corporate management techniques and even imagination can help to move districts forward. Click here to view all this year’s speakers.
Plan your AASA schedule
Find general and detailed program information, including sessions and speakers.
Explore San Francisco during AASA
San Francisco offers an abundance of restaurants, attractions, and activities. Click here for AASA-specific information about San Francisco. Check out OnlyInSanFrancisco.com for more information.
School computer deal gets state’s attention
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist’s legal counsel, Jason Gonzalez, has asked the inspector general of the state’s education department to investigate a Northeast Florida school computer system deal worth as much as $3 million, reports the St. Petersburg Times.
Girl arrested after texting in class
A Wisconsin high school resource officer said a 14-year-old girl was arrested after she was allegedly caught text messaging in class and denied having a phone, UPI reports.
Economic crisis forces shift in college aid
The current economic crisis has ravaged college endowments and prompted a host of reactions among campus officials. One of the most subtle, yet potentially profound effects of the downturn has been a shift in the way government and campus officials approach financial aid–from a focus on merit to one of real need–as colleges and universities scramble to recruit and retain cash-strapped students. Key words: student financial aid, economic recession, vanderbilt university, college endowments.
Conference explores benefits of mobile learning
Using smart phones and other mobile devices for learning isn’t just a trend, but rather a sustainable approach to educational technology that can adapt to future assessments and help raise student test scores significantly, said presenters at the first-ever Mobile Learning Conference in Washington, D.C., Feb. 17.
Key words: Mobile Learning, handheld technology, K-Nect, mobile education, cell phones and education