McCahan, R D (1993) School superintendents' perceptions of the planning and construction of a school facility. DEd thesis, Pennsylvania State University, USA.
Abstract
This study examined the perceptions that public school superintendents have of school construction projects. First, some features of the organizational and social contexts were explored. Specifically, what groups within a school district are involved in planning and how are they involved, what are the decisive factors for a district to authorize a building project, and what do school superintendents perceive to be the political implications resulting from the project? Second, the study examined the extent to which various elements of the learning environment (color, lighting, thermal and aesthetic) are considered when planning school facilities. Third, the study explored the extent to which the spatial requirements needed to accommodate recent curriculum changes, technological developments, and the needs of the community are included in the planning. Telephone interviews were conducted with 50 superintendents recently involved in such projects. The main findings of the study were that superintendents are heavily involved in the initial decision to pursue a project and remain the focal person throughout the process. They rely heavily on specialists, especially the architect, and there is internal involvement from the school board, teaching staff, central office administrators, building principal, and the Director of Physical Plant. Superintendents report that community politics is not a major factor, but in cases where political conflict was high, it resulted over issues such as site selection, closing community schools, and redefining attendance boundaries. Furthermore, the study suggests that because of the increased responsibilities and operational pressures during a building project, superintendents focus on incorporating established elements of school construction (the practical, obvious, and doable) rather than experimenting with other than what appear to be the public's preferences. Consequently, superintendents give little attention to research conducted on various elements which affect learning, to ergonomic considerations, or flexibility and spatial concerns related to new trends in education and technology.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Willower, D J |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | architect; education; flexibility; learning; politics; schools; teaching |
| Index terms: | preference, boundaries, educational building construction, site selection, interview, school district, public school, architect, aesthetic, politics |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, profession, educational management, educational institutions, political science, property law, decision-making and reasoning, factor and component analysis, building construction, cognitive psychology |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Governance, Design Practice, Engineering Principles, Legal Issues, Education |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCE |
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