This study produces demonstrable evidence that content analysis of school board minutes is a useful and promising methodology for studying demand processing. Demand processing is the conversion to outputs of the demands, needs, desires, or inputs presented to the school board. Use of the technique in a school district in each of two States showed that most input demands of a school district begin with the State educational agencies and seem guided by an apparent State objective to provide and maintain public education. In California, the State dominated demands in two areas -- school finance and school facilities; while, in New York, there did not appear to be an equal press in these areas. It was also true, however, that federal agencies accounted for most demands in another finance area of federal aid, but the demands were proportionally few and most were routine. Greater differences were found between the districts in curriculum, personnel, and issues of general concern. (Author)