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School board-public conflict in British Columbia

University of British Columbia

The study examined various aspects of school board-public conflict in British Columbia, including the relationships among board operating procedures, the demographic nature of communities, and conflict; issues that lead to conflict; and the intensity of conflict. The study also examined the relationships between community demography and board operating procedures. Board operating procedures were determined by examining the public minutes of all British Columbia school board meetings held during a one year period. Twenty-seven boards, representing a range of procedures, were selected as a sample. Community demographic characteristics were described in terms of heterogeneity, property assessments, and district size. Conflict was measured by means of a questionnaire to board members and district officials. It was found that British Columbia school boards exhibit a wide range of operating procedures, with boards in large districts tending to have less formal contact with the public during board meetings than do boards in smaller districts. The amount of board-public conflict increases as district size increases and is greater in more heterogeneous districts. Conflicts concerning pupil welfare are apt to be intense. Large urban districts experience greater conflict over matters concerning physical plant and instruction than do smaller rural districts. Boards in heterogeneous communities tend to have less conflict with the public if they increase direct contact with the public through public board meetings. Heterogeneity is more closely related to conflict than is district size.

Text

2010-03-30

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/23047

Educational Administration and Leadership

University of British Columbia

Graduate