Abstract
Research problem. Board members control billions of dollars and the educational fate of millions of children. With orientation, particularly at the district level, new board members function more quickly and more effectively. The primary purpose of the investigation was to assess perceived needs and concerns of new school board members in Los Angeles County regarding district orientation and how these needs and concerns are met. Perceived needs were analyzed according to sex, age, occupational group, and prior experience in education-related activities. Methodology. The investigation was a survey study. All new school board members in Los Angeles County elementary, high school, and unified school districts were surveyed with an 80% rate of return. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-tests, and simple analysis of variance. Major findings. More than one-third of new school board members received no district orientation. Orientation topics presented to new school board members were given less than "limited coverage." District coverage of all 36 orientation topics presented to new school board members differed significantly from coverage needed at the.0001 level of confidence. Needed coverage of orientation topics did not vary significantly with age, occupation, or prior experience in education-related activities. However, males expressed stronger interest than females in group process skills. Conclusions. New school board member orientation varied widely in quality and quantity. Topics were inadequately presented. Board members' expressed needs were not met in many districts. The importance of topics change over time. There is a need for input from board members into their orientation in order for them to establish a "buy-in" and "ownership" of the process. Recommendations. School districts should provide intensive, planned, and ongoing orientation for new school board members in order to communicate unique local needs and information. Districts without bylaws or board policies regarding orientation should adopt them. The survey used in the study can serve as a needs assessment instrument to ascertain both the topics and the extent of coverage that should be provided in district orientation. Recommendations were made for further research.