Theses and Dissertations
Date of Award
2023
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Abraham S. Fischler College of Education
Advisor
Karen Kimball
Committee Member
Lucille Beisner
Keywords
Post-consolidation, Pre-consolidation, School Consolidation, School District Consolidations, School Mergers
Abstract
School district consolidation has been a trend throughout the United States as state departments of education are mandating that nearby school districts consolidate with other nearby districts. This trend is being mandated in an effort to decrease funds being spent by having many small districts. This includes funds being spent on salaries and schools, as schools consolidate due to districts consolidating. Schools, central offices, parent centers, and other buildings that are related to having multiple central offices close. Jobs are lost, policies change, and sometimes leadership changes. However, change is inevitable. With change comes different concepts, policies, and in some cases an influx of climate and culture changes and shocks. There is now a merging of two different climates, when schools consolidate. This can create a sense of newness, which interrupts, changes, and decreases the effectiveness of the teaching and learning processes as they may have been before the consolidation.
This dissertation provided information based on research about the perceptions of educators and administrators, along with the challenges and changes that come with district and school consolidations. Research focused on high schools in the Delta Consolidated High School, located in Mississippi. This was a qualitative research study. The perceptions of high school and central office administrators about the consolidation as well as teachers were provided in this dissertation study. The research methodology used to determine perceptions of district employees was the phenomenological methodology. State of Mississippi test data both preconsolidation and postconsolidation were reviewed, analyzed, and provided in the dissertation.
NSUWorks Citation
Candace L. Gillespie. 2023. Educators’ and Administrators’ Perceptions, Challenges, and Changes Associated With School District Consolidation. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education. (407)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/fse_etd/407.