Abstract
The literature in education is clear that in order to survive in the current financial situation, California educators have to be more entrepreneurial. Partnerships with cities are one of the entrepreneurial sources to which districts have turned in their search for adequate funding. In order to examine the status and potential of school district/city partnerships, this descriptive research study utilized a field-tested questionnaire which was sent to Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino County districts with an ADA of 30,000 or less (N = 160). Seventy-five percent of the districts responded with 55 percent indicating some form of partnership with a city. The major findings of the study were: (1) There are many unique combinations and provisions of these agreements including facilities sharing and/or redevelopment projects, Joint Powers Agreements, landscape maintenance, revenue for the district, the sharing of personnel, the exchange of property, and joint financing. (2) Among the major provisions of district/city partnerships are the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of district facilities, the provision of recreational facilities and services, and the furnishing of trained specialists and support personnel to enhance district programs and services. (3) The dollar value of partnerships ranged from $2,500 per year to \\\\$95-200 million over a 25-30 year period. (4) Superintendents play a key role in the initiation of partnerships, but often rely on management team members to administer the planning and implementation stages. (5) The most frequently used partnership information sources are people-related and include personal contacts, city representatives, word of mouth, consultants and legal counsel. (6) The complexity of partnerships requires that conditions be clearly defined and in writing. (7) There were few overwhelming political or legal constraints that inhibited partnerships. The key implications of the study are: (1) Cities are a valuable source of funding. (2) District/city partnerships require the investment of a district's resources of people and time, but are a profitable, viable and potent mechanism for funding school services.