Date of Award

Fall 12-1-2004

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Educational Leadership

First Advisor

Robert L. Boyd

Second Advisor

Bradley V. Balch

Third Advisor

Edwyna Hord

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the perceptions and practices of Indiana public school superintendents who represent two groups, those who had experienced building exposure to mold and those who had not experienced building exposure to mold. Seventy-five Indiana public school superintendents responded to the opinionnaire with a return rate of 81.5%. Results indicate that: (1) Indiana public school superintendents who had not experienced building exposure to mold had higher mean values than those who had experienced building exposure to mold relative to closing only classrooms affected by mold and to relocating staff and students exposed to mold; (2) Indiana public school superintendents who had experienced building exposure to mold had higher mean values than those who had not experienced building exposure to mold relative to meeting with faculty and staff to provide updates on mold exposure. Additionally, (1) The Indiana public school superintendents located in urban and suburban areas gave higher ratings of mean values than those in small town school districts for hiring a mold remediation company to test indoor air quality; (2) Indiana school superintendents located in rural areas gave higher ratings than those in small town areas for contacting the Indiana State Board of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency to perform indoor air quality tests to determine the degree of mold contamination and communicating with parents and community when mold is discovered.

Download

Share

COinS