Abstract
Abstract This article examines the data gathered during research into the formation of a regional board of education in Victoria, Australia. Two of the issues which arose over the 12‐month research period and which were extensively commented on during the second round of interviews are explored. The first issue relates to the frustration experienced by, especially, the elected representatives who had joined under the banner of collaborative and participatory decision making, but found in reality that this was not the case. The consequent high degree of alienation led many members to resign. The second issue relates to the tension between the central administration and the members representing the local community who sought to contest the limitations imposed on them by the central administration's budgetary guidelines. These issues are discussed within the theoretical perspectives offered by O'Connor, Offe and Habermas.
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