Term of Award

Summer 2003

Degree Name

Doctor of Education in Educational Administration

Document Type and Release Option

Dissertation (open access)

Department

Department of Leadership, Technology, and Human Development

Committee Chair

Michael D. Richardson

Abstract

This study explored how the school superintendents and school board chairpersons perceived the training needs of school board members across the state of Georgia. The study examined how superintendents and school board chairpersons perceived the actual and ideal knowledge level of school board members on six educational issues (student achievement, budget, school reform, curriculum, public relations, and the roles and responsibilities of school board members and superintendents).

The study utilized a self-designed survey questionnaire to address the research questions. The 20 item questionnaire had respondents rate both the actual and ideal knowledge level of school board members in order to determine their training needs

One hundred and five (57%) school superintendents and 55 (31%) school board chairpersons out of a possible 180 responded to the survey. The demographic profiles of the respondents were comparable to the demographic make-up of superintendents and school board chairpersons across the state.

The study identified two educational issues in which school board members need extra training: student achievement and curriculum. Also, the state agencies and organizations that provide school board members with training should seriously consider additional training on issues surrounding public relations and budget.

Both superintendents and school board chairpersons rated the issues surrounding the roles and responsibilities of school board members and superintendents as the most important training issue. Additionally, school board members were perceived as having the most knowledge on these issues.

The recommendations of the study focus on modifying the current amount and content of school board member training in order to incorporate the identified training needs in this study, and conducting more in-depth research on the issues surrounding appropriate school board member training.

Copyright

This work is archived and distributed under the repository's standard copyright and reuse license for Theses and Dissertations authored 2005 and prior, available here. Under this license, end-users may copy, store, and distribute this work without restriction. For questions related to additional reuse of this work, please contact the copyright owner. Copyright owners who wish to review or revise the terms of this license, please contact digitalcommons@georgiasouthern.edu.

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