Date of Award

1992

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Program

Higher Education Administration EdD

First Advisor

Edward A. Streeter

Second Advisor

Paul S. Brantley

Third Advisor

David S. Penner

Abstract

Problem

Particularly during the 1980s and 1990s, Seventh-day Adventist secondary schools have been facing problems with enrollments and finances. The purpose of this research was to identify those elements of information and data that the board chairs and principals of United States Seventh-day Adventist secondary schools determined would provide, if gathered and organized, the foundation for school personnel accountability and planning.

Method

The population consisted of the board chairs and principals of SDA secondary schools located in the continental United States. A questionnaire was developed, piloted by a panel of judges, and sent to each of the 78 principals and 75 board chairs. The data received was analyzed, organized for majority responses, and tested for significant differences of responses of the principals as compared with those of the board chairs.

Results

This study included 149 specific elements of secondary school operational information divided among four categories - finances, curriculum and program, personnel, and plant and equipment. Adventist secondary school principals and board chairs were surveyed for their recommendations of which items of information should be provided to school administrators, board members, department heads, and/or the faculty. The purpose was to identify which elements of information should be prepared and presented to each group of school management personnel. The 149 items and the four groups generated 596 possibilities. The results of the study provided a specific list of informational elements recommended to be included in a data procurement system for accountability and planning. Significant differences in the recommendations of the board chairs and principals were identified and revealed.

Conclusions

This research identified the elements that should be included in a data procurement and organization system for planning and accountability and are listed in chapter 4. In addition, 95 items generated recommendations from the chairs and principals that were significantly different in numbers. This strongly suggested the need for board chairs, principals, and board members to evaluate seriously the role of support and involvement that the various entities - board members, department heads, and faculties - should have in the operation of an accountable school.

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.32597/dissertations/597/

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