Abstract
Purpose. It was the purpose of this study to determine the present and future role and priority assigned to functional tasks normally performed by the chief school business official in California as perceived by school board members, superintendents, and chief school business officials. Procedures. A questionnaire dealing with tasks associated with the chief school business official was mailed to selected school board members, superintendents, and chief school business officials. One-sample and two-sample chi-square (x$\\\\sp2$) Kolmogorov-Smirnov, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare the responses of the school board members, superintendents, and chief school business officials. Selected Findings. (1) Respondents perceived the present and future role of the chief school business official to be that of either a doer or delegator in most tasks except in the areas of non-business and classified staff where the role was perceived to be either no role or resource person. (2) Significant differences existed among school board members, superintendents, and chief school business officials regarding the present and future role and priority of tasks of the chief school business official because, in most cases, the responses of chief school business officials differed from those of school board members and superintendents. (3) No significant differences existed among chief school business officials relative to the present and future role of the chief school business official when comparing responses based on professional work experience and size of school district. Selected Conclusion. (1) The chief school business official is and will continue to be the responsible party for functional tasks that have traditionally been assigned to the business office. (2) The role of the chief school business official is similar in small, medium, and large districts. (3) Professional work experience of the chief school business official does not have an effect on the role of the chief school business official. (4) School board members and superintendents have different perceptions than chief school business officials relative to the role of the chief school business official. Selected Recommendations. It is recommended that: (1) The school board, superintendent, and chief school business official in each respective school district agree on the role of the chief school business official. (2) A study, using reference groups other than board members or superintendent be performed.