DECENTRALIZATION RECONSIDERED - SCHOOL CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT (FROM SCHOOL CRIME AND DISRUPTION; 1978, BY ERNST WENK AND NORA HARLOW - SEE NCJ-51386)

• NCJ Number: 51393
• Author(s): W T PINK; D E KAPEL
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: Responsible Action
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A MODEL FOR DECENTRALIZATION THAT POSITS POLICYMAKING IN SCHOOL BOARDS COMPOSED OF RANDOMLY SELECTED PARENTS WITH JURISDICTION OVER ONE SCHOOL IS DISCUSSED AS A MEANS OF REDUCING THE INCIDENCE OF SCHOOL CRIME.

Abstract

THE PROPOSED MODEL FOR THE DECENTRALIZATION OF POLICYMAKING FOR SCHOOLS IS MOTIVATED BY THE BELIEF THAT PLACING POLICY DECISIONS IN THE HANDS OF PARENTS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WILL ASSURE THE DESIGN OF AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AND THE CREATION OF A SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT THAT WILL MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND THUS REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF SCHOOL CRIME AND DELINQUENCY. IN THE MODEL PROPOSED, EACH SCHOOL BECOMES THE FOCAL POINT OF A DECENTRALIZED DISTRICT WITHIN THE ORIGINAL PARENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. EACH COMMUNITY BOARD, WHICH HAS PRIMARY VESTED INTEREST IN A PARTICULAR SCHOOL, ALSO IS TANGENTIALLY CONNECTED TO THE CITY-WIDE SCHOOL BOARD THROUGH A CONGRESS OF LOCAL DECENTRALIZED BOARDS SERVING IN AN ADVISORY CAPACITY. FOR EACH SCHOOL GRADE, 2 PARENTS WOULD BE RANDOMLY SELECTED TO SIT ON THE SCHOOL BOARD. RANDOM SELECTION WOULD INSURE THAT EACH PARENT IN THE DISTRICT WOULD HAVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO BE SELECTED FOR BOARD MEMBERSHIP, WHILE ELIMINATING THE POWER DYNAMICS OF POLITICAL SELECTIONS. IF A PARENT REFUSED TO SERVE. THE NEXT NUMBER WOULD BE SELECTED. THESE LOCAL DECENTRALIZED SCHOOL BOARDS WOULD HAVE BROAD DECISIONMAKING AUTHORITY WITH RESPECT TO CURRICULAR AND PROGRAM POLICY, SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY, BUDGET DEVELOPMENT (WITHIN GUIDELINES BY THE CITY-WIDE SCHOOL BOARD), HIRING, EVALUATION, AND DISMISSAL OF STAFF (BUT NOT CONTRACT NEGOTIATION), USE OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE LOCALLY AS WELL AS THOSE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE CENTRAL OFFICE, AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALL POLICIES REQUIRED BY THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION TO MEET THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN AND THE COMMUNITY WITHIN ITS CATCHMENT AREA. THE DAILY ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION OF THE SCHOOL WOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BUILDING PRINCIPAL. BOARD MEMBERS WOULD SERVE 3-YEAR STAGGERED TERMS, WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING RESELECTED. AN ORGANIZATIONAL CHART SHOWING THE STRUCTURE OF DECENTRALIZATION IS PRESENTED. (RCB)