1620: Board-Superintendent Relations

The successful operation of schools requires a close, effective working relationship between the Board and the Superintendent. As the legally designated governing body, the Board retains final authority within the district. The Superintendent is the Board's professional advisor to whom the Board delegates executive responsibility. It is essential that each recognize and respect one another's areas or responsibility. To help clarify their relationship, the following principles are adopted:

1. The Board will select a Superintendent of schools who shall be the head of the school system and be directly responsible to the Board for the total administration of the school district. The Board will not assume the administrative function, but will vest in the superintendent executive authority commensurate with the responsibility.
2. Individual Board members will not hold the Superintendent accountable for meeting expectations that do not have the endorsement of the Board.
3. The Board will deal with personnel issues after consultation and upon recommendation by the Superintendent, and will issue all orders affecting employees through the Superintendent.
4. The Board will expect from the Superintendent recommendations for the improvement of the school district. The Board will adopt or revise policies after consulting with the Superintendent.
5. Since the strength of public policy is derived from diverse and sometimes contradictory views of policymakers, Board members will freely and openly express their views on all items before the Board. However, all members of the Board will also seek ways to reconcile their diversity in order to provide clear direction to the Superintendent and staff.