Articles in this issue

• Middle grades strand slated to be blockbuster at summit
  Middle grades education leaders are in for some serious career development opportunities to coincide with “celebrating the hero within” at ACSA’s 2008 Leadership Summit, set for Nov. 6-8 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego.
• Final budget offers little future refuge
  Despite the long delay in getting a budget done, no one seems pleased with the final product. Unfortunately, it puts off the essential budget reform needed to get the state out of the structural deficits it faces every year.
• Superintendent/Principal of the Year
  Being a principal is not an easy job. Being a superintendent is also not an easy job. So, imagine the challenge for those who wear both hats. One of the best at this position is Henry Bietz, superintendent/principal of Westwood USD.
• Summit pre-con tackles politics
  In the ACSA Leadership Summit pre-conference session “Unleashing the Political Hero Within: Using Political Know-How to Make Necessary Changes in Chaotic Times,” participants will learn to develop political savvy.
• SBE adopts streamlined waivers for districts meeting API
  The State Board of Education has approved a new streamlined waiver policy, aiming to expedite the process by putting waiver requests on a “consent” file with little or no debate.