Clear Board and Superintendent Roles are Crucial to the District
Joseph Reeves

The school board governs and the superintendent administers the school district. While this may sound simple it is often the most difficult area for the board and superintendent to clarify.

Not having a clear understanding of the board and superintendent's proper role can lead to poor communication, mistrust and, in the end, conflict and educational failure. In order for boards and superintendents to begin clarifying their roles agreement must be reached on a few common elements.

In general, boards are elected by the community to set priorities, establish policies and evaluate the outcomes of district operation. Superintendents identify needs and policies, develop regulations, provide leadership, and manage the day-to-day operation of the district.

The Role of the School Board
Each school district's needs and conditions are unique. And since the dynamic between a board and its superintendent varies from district to district, they often fall into their own particular version of the proper roles of governance and administration. Unfortunately, few take the time to analyze the division and discuss options for structuring an approach that will be best for the district.

The school board is the final authority in the district. Since the board can only act as a group it confers to the superintendent sufficient legal authority to implement the board's policies and run the day-to-day operations of the district. The board and superintendent should consult before making any final determination on educational issues affecting the district.

The Role of the Superintendent
The superintendent serves as the board's chief adviser on educational matters and as the district's educational leader. He or she is responsible for ensuring the board is informed about district operations and activities, and about the district's needs.

Developing administrative procedures necessary to manage the district's day-to-day affairs properly and in conformity with board policy is the responsibility of the superintendent. These procedures must be in compliance with all laws, rules and regulations that apply to the district.

The superintendent should ensure sufficient information is provided to the board so it is able to make informed decisions and evaluate the results of those decisions.

Setting Priorities
The board and superintendent should work together to set priorities for the district. Priorities can establish goals for the budget, determine new educational programs, and ensure adequate services are available to students. The board and superintendent should set aside time to define their proper roles within each of these areas.
The superintendent acts as an adviser to the board in establishing its priorities. He or she identifies the current needs of the district, suggests a process, supplies information to the board, makes recommendations and develops strategies for implementing the priorities. Boards make the final determination of priorities for the schools.

Board Policies
Developing its policies is the board's major responsibility. By adopting policies aimed at specific priorities, the board clearly defines its vision for the district while it leaves room for the administration to use judgment in selecting an approach to implementing them. Neither the board nor superintendent can work alone in this process.

The board reviews, evaluates and adopts policies that define its intent for the superintendent and what is needed to implement the policies. The superintendent suggests policies to the board, provides information and drafts written policies, develops regulations, and collects information on the impact specific policies have on the district.

Clarifying Roles
Only the superintendent can manage the day-to-day operations of the district, and only the board can identify the expectations for the district through its policies. Boards that micro-manage are working outside of their policy-making role. Superintendents who macro-manage are superseding the governance role of the board.

Roles of the board and superintendent need to be clarified through discussions of the expectations and responsibilities for various tasks. If there is disagreement about the process or responsibilities, take the time to discuss each participant's perception of what has taken place in the past and what he or she thinks should take place in the future. AASB's Board Standards offer a good starting point for that discussion. Each of the Standards has indicators that define board responsibilities and actions.

The school board and superintendent should treat each other with respect at all times. The actions of the school board and superintendent should provide the public with confidence that the district is being run professionally and in a manner that is consistent with the students' educational needs and the community's desires and aspirations.

If the school board and superintendent make an effort to understand and respect each other's roles, they will avoid unnecessary conflicts. They also stand the best chance of responding successfully to the various issues confronting the district.