Policy: 1620
By-Laws of the Board
The Board-Superintendent Relationship
The successful operation of schools requires a close, effective working relationship between the Board and the Superintendent. The relationship must be one of trust, goodwill and candor. As the legally designated governing body, the Board retains final authority within the District. The Board exercises powers expressly required and implied by law. The Superintendent is the Board’s professional advisor, to whom the Board delegates executive responsibility, including such powers required to manage the District in a manner consistent with Board policy and state and federal law.
The Superintendents, as an executive officer of the Board (secretary), is a responsible for the administration of the schools under applicable laws and policies of the District. The Board delineates the duties of the Superintendent and uses them as the basis for evaluating the Superintendent’s performance. Unless specifically limited, the Superintendent may delegate to other staff the exercise of any powers and the discharge of any duties imposed by District policy or vote of the Board. The delegation of power or duty does not relieve the Superintendent of responsibility for the actions taken under such a delegation.
In order to perform their responsibilities, Board Members must be familiar with the operations within the schools. The Superintendent will establish communication procedures which can enhance the Board Member’s understanding of student programs and school operations. The Superintendent, in order to perform his or her responsibilities, must also be kept advised of issues and have the authority to control the utilization of the District’s staff. It is therefore the policy of the Board that:
1. The Board and its members shall not issue directives to staff except through the Superintendent or the superintendent’s designated representative(s).
2. Individual Board members shall not request from the Superintendent or staff the preparation of a report or compilation of materials not readily available and involving significant staff time unless the majority of the Board by motion duly made and adopted shall have approved the preparation of the report or the compilation of material.
3. Members of the Board shall refer all personal appeals, applications, complaints, and other communications concerning the administration of the school district to the Superintendent or his or her designated representative(s) for investigation and report to the Board member. Ordinarily, such matters are referred to the Board for decision only upon statutory appeals.
4. Communications between the Board and the Superintendent will be governed by the following practices:
a. Exercise honesty in all written and interpersonal interaction, avoiding misleading information.
b. Demonstrate respect for the opinions and comments of each other.
c. Maintain focus on common goals.
d. Communicate with each other in a timely manner to avoid surprises.
e. Maintain appropriate confidentially.
f. Openly share personal concerns, information, knowledge and agendas.
g. Make every reasonable effort to protect the integrity of the district and each other.
h. Respond in a timely manner to requests and inquiries from each other.
Adopted: 12/2012
Revised: 2/2020