Publication Date

1966

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Yankow, Henry G.||Nelson, Howard N.||Price, Alfred J.

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

College of Business

LCSH

School management and organization

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyse the development, probable future, and the opinions of superintendents in selected school districts in Wisconsin regarding the relationship of the school business administrator to the school administrative organization. It is assumed that an analysis of the development and present status of the school business administrator in relation to the administrative staff would be a natural approach to a better understanding of the investigation into the superintendents' opinions regarding this relationship. Questionnaires were addressed to the chief administrators and sent to 49 Wisconsin school districts with an enrollment of mare than 1,000 students. Forty-eight superintendents returned the questionnaire, a return of almost 98 per cent. The response to the questionnaire brought early results. More than 75 per cent of the superintendents answered all the questions. Of the remaining 22.5 per cent, or eleven chief administrators, returning the questionnaire, 12.3 per cent, or six superintendents, answered more than one half, but less than 100 per cent of the questions. Five chief administrators, or the remaining 10.2 per cent, answered less than 50 per cent of the questions. The one superintendent not responding amounted to 2 per cent of the total. The largest responding group, 22 superintendents, had a student population between 1,501 - 4,500 pupils. Almost 57 per cent of the districts in this study are growing between 5 per cent to 10 per cent per year. The answer to the question: "Who accomplished the business functions prior to 1955?" was not completed by 18 of the responding superintendents. The reason being that the school districts in which they are presently employed did not exist ten years ago. The position of business administrator has existed in Wisconsin for more than 25 years; yet, 14 districts, or 29 per cent of the respondents, have had a business administrator less than five years. During the past 15 years, there has been a total of 25 business positions filled. Of the 10 superintendents stating they do not have a business manager, eight are planning to fill the position during the next three years. The question concerning the relationship of the business administrator's salary to the superintendent's salary was answered by 68.75 per cent of the total questionnaires returned. The chief administrator's reply to this section of the questionnaire indicates that he is in favor of the business administrator being placed on an established salary schedule; thereby giving the business administrator an idea of his ultimate salary goal. On the basis of the literature surveyed, the business management field can expect to grow to where the business administrator will be identified as the executive officer, employing people who have specialization in such areas as purchasing, accounting, and possibly personnel, data processing, etc., reporting to or through the business administrator. The responses to the questionnaire reveal an interest on the part of the superintendents to offer overall support for the business administrator's position. From an analysis of the questionnaire, it is evident that there is a direct relationship to the employment of a business manager and the growth of the school district's student population. This analysis further supports that the position of business administrator has developed rapidly until today it is an integral part of the educational program. The investigation disclosed that prior to the employing of a business manager, the superintendent carried out the business functions along with the educational program. This study revealed that the business administrator's position is that of second administrative officer in the school district. The questionnaire further revealed that the salary compensation suggested for the business manager is compatible to the administrative assignment.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references.

Extent

vii, 45 pages, 4 unnumbered pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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