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The Public-Private Partnership that Built a 'Traditional' School |
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A B.C. case study, based on interviews with key figures associated with the partnership, offering conclusions and policy recommendations for districts contemplating PPP ventures. January 2001
Dr. Daniel J. Brown
Many school districts have limited experience with pubic-private partnerships in school construction. This case study by Dr. Daniel Brown examined the first such experiment in British Columbia.
Auguston School in Abbotsford, BC offered an opportunity to evaluate an early P3 model to determine the elements of success and areas of difficulty. The school, which opened in September 2000, was to be constructed and financed by the developer of a new residential sub-division and leased back to the school district for 20 years with an option to purchase at that time. The project was of interest as the first such partnership in British Columbia and because the school was designated a magnet or alternative public school. As a venture in a rapidly growing school district, an impartial understanding of this case provides important information.
Brown's research was based on interviews with central players and analysis of all relevant documentation. Some eighteen principals associated with the Auguston partnership, drawn from government, school district, and the business community, were interviewed. Brown examined:
♦ the key actors and factors in the establishment of the P3
♦ the P3 structure and how well it functioned
♦ the elements considered critical to its success and the difficulties faced
♦ the extent to which the selection of a school of choice influenced the P3
♦ the outcomes to date and how the P3 has evolved
The study was commissioned in January 2000 by the Society for the Advancement of Excellence in Education through a grant to the University of British Columbia. The research was conducted by Dr. Daniel Brown, Professor of Educational Administration and his research team including educational consultant, John Uzelac, doctoral research assistant, Katherine Babiak and two experienced school-based educators. The expert advisory panel established for the study included Steve Davis, chair, Canada Council on P3 Partnerships.
Research Series 9, Published January 2001, ISBN # 0-9685144-5-6 ♦ Order ♦ Executive Summary ♦ |
