Dana Hall Funding Mission, Essay Example

When Elaine Betts set out to solve the problem of funding for the Dana Hall School, she had some qualitative and quantitative knowledge at her disposal. Qualitatively, she knew about the changes in attitudes towards single sex education which had helped to bring down enrollment and also knew of the recent, turbulent history of the school and its multiple changes in headmistresses which had destabilized the school. Quantitatively, she had information about enrollment and school revenues, including tuition and other revenue sources such as alumnae giving and the sale or rental of school property.  Additional information, however, could be gathered to make the knowledge of the situation more complete.  This would include, quantitatively, the tuition and revenue sources of other comparable boarding schools to gain insight into what has been successful for them.  It could also include qualitative assessment of the way the local community views the school and if there is anything that can be done to increase local support from the businesses, faith-based organizations, etc., that surround the school, as well as gaining a better knowledge of the perceptions of parents, teachers, and students (this will be discussed in the next section).

The Action Research Inquiry Cycle and Qualitative Assessment of Dana Hall

There are three phases which make up the Action Research Inquiry Cycle. These phases include planning for the action to be taken, then implementing that action and evaluating the results of that action.  This is a methodical, step by step process which helps to avoid over-hasty action in problem-solving. The very first, and arguably most important, step in this process is diagnosis of the problem.  In order to do this properly, there is other qualitative information that would be helpful for Elaine Betts to have.  A survey of the satisfaction or dissatisfaction of the staff, particularly the teachers, would be very helpful to rebuilding good will among the school employees, as this apparently was part of the problem.  Another survey which would yield good results would be a survey of both the students and parents to find out what they look for in a school and what would make the school more attractive (and competitive).  Direct observation of the school grounds and property, of the way classes are conducted, of the current school curricula, would also be helpful to gain the most complete knowledge possible of the school in order to solve its funding problems.

Problem-solving for a complex issue is never an easy matter. However, a methodical approach, with emphasis on gathering information to accurately diagnose the problem before taking action, would be an excellent way to solve the funding problems for Dana Hall.