Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to identify the key tasks required for a principal to open a new public middle school facility and establish a timeline for accomplishing these tasks as determined by experts in the field. The major components principals were responsible for making decisions included budget, culture, curriculum, daily operations, external politics, internal politics, facilities, pupil personnel, safety, scheduling, staffing, technology, and other responsibilities the experts recommended. Information from the study will develop a guide to assist principals opening a new public middle school facility. Methodology. This descriptive study utilized a modified Delphi study to conduct qualitative research. Twelve expert panelists consisting of ten principals and two assistant superintendents participated in three rounds of questionnaires. A website was used to collect the experts' opinions electronically from September 15, 2005, through October 2, 2005. Three rounds were used for data collection. Findings. Nineteen tasks were identified in budget, eighteen tasks in culture, eighteen tasks in curriculum, eighteen tasks in daily operations, nineteen tasks in external politics, fifteen tasks in internal politics, twenty tasks in facilities, twelve tasks in pupil personnel, twenty-three tasks in safety, sixteen tasks in scheduling, fifteen tasks in staffing, twenty-five tasks in technology, and three tasks in other. First priority tasks need to begin six months before, second priority tasks four months before, third priority tasks two months before, and fourth priority tasks one month before school starts. Recommendations for action. The principal of a new middle school should have a clear personal mission, vision, and core values. All decisions should be based on the core values of the site. These values provide direction for all aspects of the school. The experts agree a principal should be released from their current assignment at least six months before the opening of a new middle school. District offices need to consider providing a mentorship and an orientation for principals assigned the duty of opening a new school. Leadership academies can also help decrease the lack of literature by publishing articles about opening new middle schools and training for principals opening new schools.