With the shift to larger units of administration in Ontario, there is a need for the realization of a working relationship between the two roles of administrator and trustee, based on the strengths of each. The strength of the administrator is in his skills as manager and coordinator and communicator and in his ability to communicate on a…

Summarizes in-depth interviews with six past and present Canadian superintendents from metropolitan school districts. Discusses school board expectations of superintendents, ways to build an effective working relationship with the board, the political demands of the superintendent's position, and instructional leadership and other aspects of the…

Ontario school systems face problems in trustee-professional staff relationships, establishing community involvement in school affairs, developing policies whereby maximum use is made of resources available, and in increasing public awareness of what schools are for and what they are doing. These problems are discussed, and an ideal system for…

One of the most significant changes influencing school board policy-making over the last dozen years has been the advent of politics. The advent of politics in educational organizations is best demonstrated by the emergence in the 1970s of interest groups. Schools and school boards have become highly targeted by such groups in part because of…

In 1975 the Ontario Ministry of Education assigned major responsibilities in curriculum development to local school boards. School boards responded by establishing or expanding special units to develop local programs. At the present time, the organization of these units or program departments varies widely. The focus of the present study is to…

Questionnaires were sent to school board trustees throughout Canada to gather information concerning the superintendent-trustee relationship. This study focused on the three areas of finance, personnel, and communications. Results indicated that the senior administrative officers of the board wield power over these three categories, and hence…

The chairpersons of 40 Manitoba school boards completed a questionnaire examining frequency of superintendent evaluation, participants in the process, use of rating instruments, format of reporting, and evaluation goals. Evaluation packages of two districts were noteworthy in that they served to clarify the superintendent's role continuously. (SV)

This paper describes a study that tested the validity of Kerr's 1964 model of school board socialization. Central hypothesis of the study was Kerr's finding that, over time, novice school board members assign increasingly more responsibility to district administrators. Data were generated primarily through stratified interviews with 40 novice…

Discusses responses to a 1990 survey of 21 Chief Librarians of medium-sized public libraries in Ontario regarding experiences working with the Library Board. Topics addressed include the powers and role of the board, balance and limits of power, informing the board, working with the municipality, the working relationship, clarifying expectations,…

Findings of a study that examined the nature of transformational leadership in 10 Canadian secondary schools are presented in this paper. Interviews were conducted with all of the principals and vice-principals and a sample of department heads in 10 secondary schools identified as successful in implementing change. This paper presents findings…

This study investigated the school superintendency in British Columbia from 1979 through 1987, which has been a time of change from provincial to local employment of superintendents. Research explored the turnover and attrition among superintendents and the activities subsequent to their departure. Such demographic data were gathered from Ministry…

This document reports the results of a year-long study of the processes used successfully to manage policy in a medium-sized school district in Ontario, Canada. The study was subjective and qualitative, and involved three techniques: observing meetings and people at work, conducting interviews, and examining documentary material. The researchers…

This speech outlines the purposes to be served by increased professional and lay participation in decisionmaking at school and systemwide levels. The author suggests (1) a committee structure designed to facilitate increased participation by professional and lay personnel, and (2) some methods for involving professional and lay personnel at both…

Findings of a study that examined the administrative practices of effective senior administrators in Ontario, Canada are presented in this paper, which is based on the theoretical concept of "facilitative power" as described by Dunlap and Goldman (1991). This approach views effective leadership as working through others rather than…