Relationships in Three Ontario Elementary Public School Councils: Patterns of Interaction

Historically there has been tension between local parent and community control and professional and centralized control in public school decision making. Provincial regulations in Ontario and in many other jurisdictions require the establishment of site-based school councils to bring together educational professionals with parents and community representatives. Ontario regulations confirm the advisory role of school councils in their mandate to improve student achievement and ensure school accountability to parents. This qualitative study examined the patterns of interaction between parents and school staff in three school councils. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with principals, vice principals, teachers, non-teaching staff and parents. Information was also obtained from participant interviews, school council minutes policy documentation and my attendance at each site-based school council meeting. The study revealed that although tensions continue to exist between home and school, the individual school context, leadership style of the principal and the relationship between the council chair and principal influence the vitality of the council. Factors that contribute to the vitality of a school council include communication strategies, characteristics of the membership, interactions at council meetings, a shared sense of purpose and practices that reflect a variety of forms of site based management. This research reveals an understanding of the relationships, strategies and processes that are important to school councils to move members towards democratic collaboration and participation. Implications for policy, school based practices and further research are described.ED