An Investigation of the Relationship Between Turnover of Incumbent Board Members and Turnover of the District's Superintendent

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the turnover of incumbent board members and turnover of the district's superintendent. Research questions asked were: 1.What are the turnover rates within five years for: a. superintendents? b. incumbent board members? c. superintendents when an incumbent board member fails to be reelected? 2. What are the factors associated with board member turnover? 3. What are the factors associated with superintendent turnover? 4. Are there variables which may be used together to discriminate between categories of superintendent turnover? 5. What is the relationship between district size and number of schools in the district to superintendent and board member turnover? 6. What is the relationship of geographic location of the districts to superintendent and board member turnover? 7. What is the relationship of the type of district, elementary, high school, or union high school, to superintendent and board member turnover? A questionnaire was sent to the superintendents of all school districts in Oregon governed by five-member school boards. The results obtained from the questionnaire were analyzed using frequency distributions, percentages, means, standard deviations, and content analysis. All hypotheses were tested at the .05 level of significance. The following conclusions were based upon the data collected and analyzed in the study. The total number of elections impacted both board member and superintendent longevity. The total number of changes on the board dramatically affected superintendent longevity. The superintendent's relationship with the board did not affect superintendent turnover until the political climate in the district became active. Political climate played a crucial role in both superintendent and board member turnover. Recommendations for further research include: (a) an in-depth study of what constitutes a contested election, (b) a study of the differences between large and small school districts that may impact superintendent and board member turnover is recommended, (c) a study of the role of the board chair in superintendent turnover, and (d) a study of the difference in superintendent turnover between superintendents who also serve as principals and those who do not.