Public Schools-Private Enterprise: What You Should Know and Do about Privatization

Flam, S. & Keane, W (1997). Lancaster, PA: Technomic, 1997, $39.95, ISBN 1566765358. Privatization of management services and instructional programs is a fact of life in many school districts. The move to privatization is not easy and requires careful study and planning before any decision is made. The book is an insightful study that examines the privatization process in some detail. Economic theory and practical experience inform the concept of contracting public school services. The human element is considered throughout the book. The book uses the author's experiences as the starting point for the consideration of privatization. The book includes topics on contracting, cost analysis, roles and responsibilities in privatization, the politics of privatization, developing and monitoring effective contracts and the future of privatization. The book follows a logical development with the authors linking the topic of each chapter to a district scenario. The book is particularly significant in that it raises questions that persons must consider before embarking on a privatization venture. The appendix materials are especially impressive in that they provide checklists, sample contractual items and lists of firms that provide school services. Contracting in public education is nothing new. This book examines many of the central issues surrounding the commercialization of school services. Chapter 1 describes a privatization experience in a Michigan school district. The experience demonstrated the need for detailed information before embarking on a privatization venture. Chapter 2 examines the history of privatization and suggests there has been a trend toward privatization of many of the governmental services in this country. It is suggested that this trend will continue and encompass education as well. Chapter 3 explores contracting as a form of privatization and cautions that decisions to move to private services contracts should be made only after careful consideration of the consequences of such an action. Examples of firms that have entered the educational marketplace are included. Chapter 4 examines the cost analysis process which school districts must perform before any privatization decision. It is suggested that it is difficult to make valid comparisons between the costs of in-house and contracted services without accurate cost comparisons. Illustrative examples are drawn from the field of school transportation. Chapter 5 discusses the roles and responsibilities of boards of education, district administrators and district staff as privatization decisions are made. …