PCA – Ethical Communities Analysis

Kyle Craig

OGL 481

6/24/2021
 Situation Restatement

In my case study I am writing from the perspective of a Gilbert School District

member making the decision that was made January 5, 2021, during a six hour school
board meeting on whether or not the students would be returning to full time instruction
the following day as Winter Break came to a close. The district returned to a hybrid
learning model in December 2020, but teachers threatened a Sick Out in January because
they wanted to avoid potential exposure to SARS-CoV-2 after all the traveling students
did over the break.

Ethics of the Organization Influence

Individuals who commit to education as a career are people whose souls are
engaged. These individuals care deeply for children and want to see them become
successful and love learning for years to come. They are also overworked and weary and
so when the district called on them to show up when it was unknown whether or not it
was safe, it left teachers feeling torn. Were they cared about by superiors or just another
pawn in the political game? Were they failing students by not teaching in a classroom?
This left teachers in an ethical quandary wondering if preserving their own health was
depriving children of a safe environment to learn and grow.

The district board had a choice in how they would respond to those questions.
Pushing forward with the decision to resume in-person instruction on the sixth of January
meant teachers needs were not a priority. Delaying the return meant disappointing both
politicians in the area as well as parents, and possibly depriving students of the
opportunity to be taught under the best practices in education. Ultimately, the district
sided with the concerns of the teachers, they prioritized the soul of the organization
(Bolman & Deal, 2017). As a result, they were able to show to their employees that they
were valued.

Course of Action Recommendation

Bolman and Deal paint a picture of power and authorship working hand in hand
(2017). To label the Gilbert School District as the ones who had power in this situation
and the teachers as those with authorship, you can see why they need to work together for
best success. Rather than working together to form a solution that met everyone’s needs,
the people in power got close to becoming oppressive as they nearly required their
employees to work in conditions that were not safe. The power the board possessed was
only meaningful if they had authors who were willing to comply (Bolman & Deal, 2017).

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 The board nearly lost the support of the educators in the district by pushing forward with
the plan to reopen schools for in-person instruction early January.
Instead of allowing this to fall out the way it did, the board should have realized
the balance between power and authorship early on. To recognize and understand that
these two groups work hand in hand rather than against one another would have saved a
lot of headache and frustration. Most teachers enjoy what they do and chose this career
path because they want to make a difference, the board is there to support them and make
their success feasible. Holding the position of power in this case, the district board
should have realized that they would not have a job if not for the teachers within the
district doing all of the grunt work and that their concerns should be the first thing they
address.

Do Different Reflection

After studying ethics, the final decision would remain the same in this case. The
district board decided after a six-hour meeting to postpone the return to in person
instruction until the end of January. The angst that came with the six-hour meeting was
the teachers not feeling that their needs were being addressed and that those in power
were making decisions based on outside influences rather than what was happening
within the organization. The teachers felt their needs were not being address and this
attributed to a struggle between those in power and those in the workforce. The soul of
the organization was no longer an emphasis or focus and they were full of contention.

The best way to preserve the relationship between those in power and the teachers
in the district is to acknowledge their concerns before listening to outside influences.
This shows the district employees that those in power care about the people working for
them and want organization wide success. Choosing the employees shows the values of
the company and gives way for continuity and loyalty to be strengthened in the
organization (Bolman & Deal, 2017).

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 Reference

Bolman, L. G., & Deal, T. E. (2017). Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and

leadership (6th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass