Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to describe the role of the principal in single operational grants with on-site health service delivery to students and cluster operational grants with off-site health service delivery to students. These grants are funded under the California State Department's Healthy Start Support Services for Children Act (B620). Methodology. Through exploratory case studies, the researcher gathered data by conducting twelve semi-structured interviews regarding the principals role in the Healthy Start grant at their school. Henry Mintzberg's work on interpersonal, informational and decisional roles provided the theoretical base for qualitative data analysis. Information was presented in multiple-case reports and cross case analysis. Findings and Conclusions. The impact of a Healthy Start grant on the role of the principal was related to the type of grant, the location of health services and the perceptions and expectations of the principal's Healthy Start role set. The single grant principals performed more interpersonal, informational and decisional roles and were more dominant in these roles. As grant procedures stabilized, the single grant principals transitioned more roles to other personnel. There was a higher incidence of serious and intense role conflict and role ambiguity between the cluster grant principals and their role set. Both cluster and single grant principals were more involved in interpersonal roles than informational or decisional roles. In conclusion, it was determined that health services delivered to students off-site at a centralized location inhibits collaboration between the site and services. It was also determined that cluster grants with off-site health service delivery had the least impact on the role of the principal.