Despite a school district budget that was shrinking (sound familiar?), Nathan Levenson, superintendent in Arlington, Mass., at the time, found ways to do more for the academic program, especially reading instruction and special education. But the political landmines he had to sidestep and the vocal backlash he ultimately faced hit him hard. 

You can read his candid account, which ran in the January '11 issue of The School Administrator magazine, at http://www.aasa.org/SchoolAdministratorArticle.aspx?id=17464.  You'll also find he wrote two related sidebar articles with his main story. These were titled "Special Education: Raising Learnign While Lowering Costs" and "A Great Reading Program at No Extra Cost." 

A good case study for discussion, I think. ... Jay P. Goldman, editor, The School Administrator