Central staff administrators' delivery of services to building administrators in selected school corporations

The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness central office administrators with systemwide responsibilities have in delivering services to building principals. The areas investigated included the degree to which central staff should have and actually did provide specific services as judged by building principals.The population of the study consisted of sixty-two principals and assistant principals in selected school corporations in central Indiana with an enrollment of 8,000 to 12,000 students. The questionnaires consisted of fortyfive items and two Likert-type response scales. Principals and assistant principals were asked to indicate on one scale the degree to which the item ideally should have been provided and on a second scale the degree to which the item actually was provided by central staff. Questionnaires were returned by fifty-eight or ninety-three percent of the principals and assistant principals.ConclusionsThe conclusions of the study were:Discrepancies exist between the ideal and actual classification in that principals were not provided with:Training in interviewing and staff selection procedures.An annual meeting between principals and maintenance to determine priorities.Maintenance service programs structured from a preventative standpoint.Discrepancies do not exist between the ideal and actual classification in that:Principals were given the final authority in the selection processes.Regularly scheduled meetings were provided to discuss concerns of building level administrators.Principals and staff received support when dealing with parents or community.Principals were provided assistance and support when difficult decisions needed to be made.Principals were provided information regarding interpretations of master contract.Principals were provided opportunities for meaningful input into curriculum development.Perceptions and reactions are discernible in the ideal and actual classification in that:Principals being included in establishing priorities in negotiations were perceivable. In-service programs for teachers and principals to develop curriculum ideas were perceivable.RecommendationsFollowing are recommendations of the study:1. Central staff maintenance should give consideration to discussion of maintenance service programs.2. Central staff should give consideration to developing in-service programs for principals in interviewing and staff selection procedures.Thesis (D. Ed.