MUSIC ADVOCACY: Caring Enough to Put the Student First
April 25, 2005
Management: Central or Site-Based
The effectiveness of the music advocate may be greatly enhanced by developing deeper insight into the distinct roles of the central and local administrations. This, of course, may vary greatly from district to district based upon specific state law and the size of the student population.
In general, centralized management refers to levels of authority or responsibility assigned by law or district policy to the chief executive of the school district. The chief executive, usually a superintendent, will have various levels of supporting staff that may include:
or other personnel who assist in the day to day operations of the district.
Each title includes specific job descriptions, levels of authority and responsibility for evaluation of subordinate personnel. In the example above, the level of authority diminishes in descending order. The status of the music program is often related to the level of supervisory personnel in charge of that area. (See The Music Administrator)
It is the central administration that is directly responsible to the Board of Education. The effectiveness of the operation of a school district is often directly related to the relationship of the board and superintendent. Contact with other members of the central administration will depend on the issue(s) being discussed and the management style of the superintendent. In my experience, the most effective administrators are those who are most proficient at evaluation of staff and collaborative decision-making.
The central administration is responsible for developing the district budget. It is also responsible for management of any line items in the budget that may fall under its supervision. In a typical music program this includes any music teachers assigned as part of the negotiated teacher contract for release or "preparatory" time (e.g., elementary general music specialists), and itinerant teachers with multiple school assignments (e.g., elementary instrumental music). Itemized or publicized budget cuts to the music program normally only appear at the central administration level.
In the process of making budgetary decisions, the central administration is responsible for the establishment of the staffing ratio. The staffing ratio relates directly to the number of teaching positions available to a single school site.
Site administrators (principals) and supporting staff are responsible for decisions at the local school. The various levels of personnel are also provided with specific job descriptions and levels of authority including:
• assistants, • guidance counselors, • directors, • department chairs,
or other personnel as determined by the district.
The principal and staff are responsible to the central administration as determined by the district. However, once the staffing ratios are assigned they generally have autonomous decision-making authority. In other words, if the central administration determines that the classes shall be increased, the site administrator can make the decision as to which programs shall have positions cut.
I refer to these as hidden cuts, because they rarely include the term "music" in the list of impending cuts. However, the music staff or budget may be significantly affected by those decisions. The music advocate must become aware of all the budgetary line items in their district that include music.
The concept of "Site-based Management" is an educational reform movement that is intended to facilitate community input, producing a more collaborative and student-centered decision-making process at the local level. The effectiveness of the concept is enhanced by balanced representation of the community and the professional, and diminished or dangerous when the membership is characterized by curricular bias, "cronyism," or dominated by the personal philosophy of an individual administrator.
The allocation of power to the various levels of administrative decision-making does not remove the responsibility for ensuring a music education for all children the Board of Education. However, unless the local music coalition is structured so that it has an adequate voice at both the central and site administrative levels our music programs will be in constant threat of reduction or elimination.
