Graduate Program

Educational Administration

Degree Name

Education Specialist (EdS)

Semester of Degree Completion

1982

Thesis Director

Gerhard C. Matzner

Abstract

In an effort to put together handbooks for Maroa-Forsyth High School the loose leaf format was decided upon for the teacher's copy. Using this format, pages can be added, deleted, or substituted when changes are needed. The following handbooks were compiled:

  1. Teacher
  2. Substitute Teacher
  3. Parent/Student

In the faculty handbook an effort was made to let the teacher know what the philosophy of the school is and the objectives of the school to educate the students in keeping with the stated philosophy. It was felt that the teacher should be given some idea about what the school district feels are professional competencies that are desired of each teacher. Included are the building policies and procedures for the school. The emergency procedures were outlined as well as the attendance policies and procedures. In the appendices an effort was made to include forms and materials that will help to clarify different parts of the handbook.

In the substitute teachers handbook a few general rules have been included along with emergency procedures and forms that the substitute might need during the substitution period. It was felt that this will help the substitute by receiving a handbook.

In the parent/student handbook, the philosophy and objectives of the school are set forth. The emergency procedures are outlined. The board of education policies as related to students are stated along with explanations and interpretations from the administration. Building regulations are stated in an effort to make both students and parents aware of the regulations of the school. Included are the regulations relating to the class load a student may carry as well as the procedure for classifying students in terms of class. The graduation requirements, grades and grading system are covered. Also, included are the attendance policies and procedures that will be followed by each student. An effort was made to touch on the different aspects of the students' school life in order to clarify what is expected of the student and what the student can expect from the school. In the appendices are included the different forms and information to help clarify sections of the handbook.

When the three handbooks are placed into the "loose leaf" notebook and given to each teacher they will have first hand knowledge what the substitute teacher and the parent or student is given. This should help to clarify procedures for the teachers.

The handbook as written, in its entirety would be the handbook each faculty member would receive.

In considering how to research material for the handbooks it was decided to begin by going back through the Board of Education minutes for the last fifteen years. The district had a Board of Education Policy Manual, but it had not been updated in the last fifteen years. In researching the Board of Education minutes an effort was made to add any policies that were not found in the policy manual or were replacements for policies in the manual. These policies were used in writing rules and regulations for the Maroa-Forsyth High School.

Letters were written to about fifty high schools of comparable size. Of the fifty schools, thirty-five sent parent/student handbooks, twenty-five sent faculty handbooks, and one sent a substitute teachers handbook.

In addition to looking through the handbooks, conversations were conducted with several of the principals about the items they had in their handbooks that caused them problems and items which they felt needed to be added. The conversations proved to be very beneficial in that they gave insight from programs that were in operation.

After going through each of the handbooks and talking to the principals the process was begun to determine items to be included in the handbooks.

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