A Modest Proposal:

The Public Schools Entrepreneurial Initiative

By Roy Grimes, MPA, MBA, CGFM and Mariama Grimes, MPA - February 5, 2010

Should a school board and school district become more entrepreneurial? And just what is public school entrepreneurship, anyway?

The answer: It is forward possibility thinking. An entrepreneurial initiative springs from an innovative perspective with an eye toward sustainability, linked with a business model framework overlay, seeking to maximize real property and other asset usage.  The primary purposes are to enhance district revenue streams while positively impacting programmatic possibilities and academic outcomes...

Four Concepts That Can Enhance Your District's School Board Leadership in the 21st Century

By Roy Grimes, MPA, MBA, CGFM - January 22, 2010

Some people believe that simply chairing a school board meeting is the essence of leadership.  In many cases, that belief would be quite to the contrary of common practice – running a successful meeting is seldom as easy as it may appear.  And for an elected body deeply involved in public education like a school board, essential concepts like “leadership,” “talent workers,” “customer care,” and “sustainable competitive advantage” are necessary and sufficient precepts which offer potential positive impacts for school board and school district direction, as well as favorable student and public outcomes...

The Broken Piñata – A Cautionary Tale

By George H. Bloch, Ed.D. - January 15, 2010

As a kid, we always had a piñata at my birthday parties. As you know, once the piñata is broken, there is a mad dash to get all the goodies.  Try eating some candy with grass and sand on it.  I can personally tell you it is not very good. 

These childhood memories come to mind when I think of the dilemma currently faced by California educators.  The fiscal issues facing California schools over the next few months and years will test the very fabric of all school districts in the state...

Hidden Budget Impacts School Programs

By Bob Blattner - December 5, 2008

At a time when California school districts are already reeling from dismal and uncertain State funding levels, many of the state's school systems will face an additional challenge in 2009-10 as a result of the underlying economic crisis which created the state's budget problems in the first place.

Because of plummeting value in their savings and retirement plans and home values, and the consequent collapse of their sense of economic security, many Americans are putting off retirement...

Oh Where, Oh Where Did Our Flexibility Go?

By Bob Blattner - September 24, 2008

For those of you leafing through the Budget approved earlier this week in search of the categorical flexibility provisions proposed in May – just save yourself the effort.

None of the proposals – including increased "Mega" and "AB 825" transfer caps, access to restricted ending fund balances, reduced Routine Restricted Maintenance obligations, reduced AB 1200 reserve requirements – survived the Budget process...