Date of Award

8-1994

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (Ded)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to gather the perceptions of students, parents, and teachers regarding the reorganization of their school districts into one school district Prior to 1990, enrollment erosion and cost pressures created concerns for the citizens of seven school districts in Nelson County, North Dakota. In 1990, the citizens of the Greater Nelson County Consortium of these seven independent school districts proposed that they be considered for supplemental pupil payments for collaborative activity as allowed under Section 15-27.6 in the North Dakota Century Code. Since 1990, Greater Nelson County schools have entered a variety of collaborative activities. In December 1992, patrons of five of the seven school districts voted to reorganize into one school district.

In this study interviews were employed to secure the perceptions of eleventh- and twelfth-grade students, parents, and teachers in the seven school districts in Greater Nelson County. Data were gathered through the use of open-ended questions asked during the focus group interviews. Two additional data sources were school district and consortium documents.

Data were analyzed using a presentation of raw comments, descriptive summary statements, and interpretive statements. The data were included in a case study of the perceptions regarding reorganization of school districts in Greater Nelson County.

Four themes emerged during the analysis. They included recognition of the circumstances which led to consolidation discussions, understanding of the significance of quality of education and of an opportunity to influence that quality, assignment of the centrality of communication and interpersonal relationships to the collaborative effort, and concern regarding the effect of consolidation on the community. Findings revealed that enrollment erosion, cost increases, and increased course and service requirements all contributed to the consideration of school district consolidation. Students, parents, and teachers acknowledged both advantages and disadvantages of the consolidation effort. The future was viewed with some ambiguities; concern was frequent; fear was not uncommon.

F.ducators should continue to examine the issue of school district reorganization and of interdistrict collaboration as they apply to their districts. Continued research is needed regarding school district reorganization and interdistrict collaboration in North Dakota and elsewhere.

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