| This case study involved an examination of stakeholders' (parents, community members, staff members, students) perceptions of how they made meaning of a regional alternative day school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Individual interviews were conducted with the parents, community members, and students. One focus group interview was conducted with the staff members. Interviews were conducted between July 07, 2010 and September 15, 2010. A description of the regional alternative day school was provided by this researcher.;The data revealed five total themes that emerged among varying subgroups. Three of the themes were common themes shared among two or more of the subgroups. The five generated themes are as follows: historical context, fear of loss, impact on health and safety, the physical structure impacts attitude and the learning environment, and social culture and community. The themes of historical context and fear of loss were generated from the community member interviews only. The theme impact on health and safety was a negative theme generated from the student and focus group interviews. The theme of impact of the physical structure on attitude and learning was generated from the parent, student, and staff member interviews. Additionally, the data collected by the participants revealed positive and negative valences. The theme of social culture and community was an unexpected theme that emerged from all four subgroups. The data revealed a positive valence among all of the four subgroups.;The data collected from the participants led this researcher to the conclusion that the physical plant impacts historical context, fear of loss, attitude and learning, impact on health and safety, and social culture and community. Each theme suggests varying degrees of environmental influence rather than implying that the physical structure alone shapes the attitude, behavior, and perceptions of stakeholders. The participants' responses in this study clearly suggest that people, as well as the physical plant, can and do have a direct impact on attitude, behavior, health and safety, and learning environment. |
