September 2025: School Administrator
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Additional Articles
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The Mixed Picture of ConsolidationThree case studies point to the multiple factors leading to district mergers.
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School Consolidations at Ground LevelFive principals share the unexpected emotional impact of merging two schools.
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From Receivership to ResilienceA California superintendent’s personal experience with rebuilding a district through system recovery.
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Looking at the Overlooked in the BudgetConsidering less-obvious savings options when attending to a district’s fiscal challenges.
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Contract LengthComparing the terms of employment.
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Preferred PronounsHow should a principal respond to teacher complaints about students choosing to use the pronoun 'they' in solidarity with classmates?
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Using Open Meetings Laws as Welcoming ToolsHelping your school board exceed the basic compliance requirements contributes to public participation.
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A Board’s Request for Soft SkillsA governing body wants evidence of interpersonal skills in its organizational leader.
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Busting a Stalemate in Strategic PlanningUsing artificial intelligence to move forward on a district’s messaging.
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Everything I Needed to Know About the Superintendency I Learned From Alanis Morissette
The pop singer’s lyrics still register for the author and her work life almost 30 years later.
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Navigating Bureaucracy with Creative Insubordination
A superintendent’s bold approach to skirting state rules that stymie student support.
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Celebrating a District’s Legacy StaffCreating pride among staff members who once walked the same halls as students.
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Lessons in Managing Necessary ChangeAASA’s president shares his own experience with school closures.
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Tough Conversations Call for TransparencyEducators should use clear language when explaining revenue shortalls.
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Sidelight: Jeff JonesA Sidelight featuring Jeff Jones, who performs guitar regularly at nursing homes and retirement centers.
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‘An Opportunity for Everyone’The superintendent in Bentonville, Ark., innovatively support her fast-growing community.
Staff
Editor's Note
Managing Downsizing and Mergers
The twin impact of declining student enrollment and the end of federal stimulus support on public school systems makes this month’s subject matter particularly timely.
The tracking firm Burbio has discovered an increasing number of school board discussions that deal with enrollment drops and/or school consolidations as of last spring. The company’s report highlighted school districts addressing facility optimization, threshold figures for school closures, consolidation plans and attendance boundary adjustments.
You’ll find an informative assortment of ideas in this issue based on real experiences, all attuned to the management of declining conditions. Our editorial coverage looks at communicating the impact of declining enrollment and the politics of managing decline, among other topics.
We would like to know whether any of these articles connect with your current thinking and needs within your own school communities. Please share your feedback with me.
Jay P. Goldman
Editor, School Administrator
703-875-0745
jgoldman@aasa.org
@JPGoldman
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