Date of Award

1-1-1981

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Educational Leadership

Abstract

The study purpose was to learn the perceived general desirability and also the perceived specific feasibility of nineteen alternative educational delivery ideas, many of which required inter-district cooperation. The population included individuals who had formally served the fifty-two school districts of northwestern Minnesota as representatives for areawide educational planning, or as superintendents of schools, or as both superintendents and representatives. The instrument used to gather data was based upon delivery ideas which resulted from long-range educational planning activities. These activities had been mandated by the Minnesota Legislature in 1976.Five research questions considered (1) role of the respondent during planning, (2) school district enrollment, (3) school district area in square miles, (4) distance to next nearest school district, and (5) distance to the regional educational cooperative service unit. The statistical procedure, analysis of variance, tested whether or not there existed significant differences in the responses of groups in terms of these five independent variables.For desirability, comparing by groups across the five independent variables, there were no significant differences. For feasibility, there were significant differences among the groups when identified by (1) role and by (2) distance to the next nearest school district. Representatives were least positive; superintendents, more positive; those in both roles, most positive. Those districts with most distance were generally least positive; mid distance, more positive; and least distance, most positive.Analysis of the alternatives for each of the five independent variables, for both desirability and feasibility, indicated that there was a significant difference in each instance. Alternatives overall identified most frequently with the most positive responses were: Joint powers/special education, Technology/computers, Joint powers/vocational education, and Technology/educational television. Most negative responses were to: Open enrollment, Involuntary reorganization, and Supplementary/home.Role and distance appear to be important variables in perceiving feasibility (capable of being employed in the respondent's own district); the delivery ideas themselves ranged from attractive to very unattractive on both feasibility and desirability. Specific recommendations were included which suggested application of findings to planning activities.

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