2131 2131Administration
Superintendent of Schools
Job Description
The Superintendent of Schools, as Chief Executive Officer of the Board of Education, will have the following specific powers and duties:
Relationship with the Board
1. to serve as the Executive Officer for the Board and be charged with the responsibility for implementing the policies of the Board. He/she shall work with the Board President in planning the agenda for each meeting, shall attend all meetings and participate in all regular and special meetings of the Board and executive meetings of the Board at the Board's request;
2. to develop a harmonious and close working relationship with the Board. He/she shall treat all Board members impartially and alike, refraining from criticism of individual or group members of the Board. He/she shall go to the Board when serious differences of opinion arise in an earnest effort to resolve such differences immediately;
3. to serve as a resource person and advisor to the Board. He/she shall keep the Board informed on issues, needs, and operation of the school system. He/she shall offer advice to the Board based on thorough study and analysis, on items requiring Board action;
4. to provide a continuous appraisal of all school policies originating with the Board. He/she shall advise the Board on the need for new and/or revised policies and suggest draft policies to satisfy those needs.
Educational Direction and Leadership
5. to develop administrative principles and procedures for implementing Board policy. He/she shall ensure the enforcement of all provisions of law, rules and regulations, and Board policy relating to the management of the schools and other education, social and recreational activities. He/she shall interpret for the staff all Board policies and applicable laws, rules and regulations.
6. to understand and keep informed on all aspects of the instructional program at all levels. He/she shall have responsibility for the supervision of instruction and shall bring to the school, in a leadership capacity, the best in educational thought and practice. He/she shall, on a continuing basis, review and update the educational program of the school, and keep the Board informed of all changes in curriculum;
7. to recommend to the Board for its adoption all courses of study, curriculum guides and textbooks to be used in the schools;
8. to encourage a positive approach to student behavior and discipline;
Personnel
9. to develop and implement sound personnel practices, consistent with law, Board policy and collective bargaining agreements, including recruitment, hiring, assignment, supervision, evaluation, promotion, and discipline of all personnel. He/she shall develop procedures for the selection of staff members. He/she shall establish standards for teacher selection, and shall provide a framework for continuing in-service training of all professional staff members.
10. to recruit qualified, professional, civil service, and non-certified personnel. He/she may authorize the payment of part or all of the expenses of candidates for teaching positions if the candidates are asked to come to the district for visits or interviews;
11. to nominate employees for appointment, promotion, transfer or dismissal in accordance with the policies of the Board and the procedures outlined by the law. He/she shall make recommendations to the Board regarding salary and tenure of all employees. He/she may temporarily suspend any employee for cause and shall promptly report such suspension to the members of the Board. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, he/she is authorized to reemploy all employees upon the adoption by the Board of the budget for the following year.
12. to supervise and evaluate all staff members. He/she shall work for good morale and be impartial, firm and fair in dealing with staff.
13. to encourage in-service education and the professional growth of staff through conferences, workshops, group discussions, committee/individual studies and use of consultants;
14. to advise the Board, in conjunction with the Board-designated negotiator(s), in all collective bargaining matters;
Financial Management
15. to prepare and present to the Board a preliminary annual budget in accordance with a schedule established with the Board. He/she is responsible for ensuring that the budget, as adopted by the Board and approved at the annual meeting, is properly administered. He/she shall ensure that regular reports are made to the Board on the status of the budget;
16. to establish efficient procedures to maximize income, safeguard investments and provide effective controls for all expenditures of school funds in accordance with the adopted budget. He/she shall ensure that all necessary bookkeeping and accounting records are maintained by the district.
Facilities Management
17. to supervise operations, maintenance, alterations and repair to buildings and grounds, insisting on competent and efficient performance;
18. to evaluate planned needs and recommend to the Board improvements, alterations and changes in the buildings and equipment of the district;
Community Relations
19. to supervise the public relations activities of the district. He/she shall keep the public informed about the policies, practices, and problems in the district's schools, and provide leadership in changing attitudes and practices for the future. He/she shall develop friendly and cooperative relationships with the news media.
20. to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with all segments of the community: parent-teacher organizations, local and state government, other school systems, institutions, agencies, civic organizations, and the general public. S/he shall solicit and give attention to problems and opinions of all groups and individuals.
Personal Qualities and Growth
21. to demonstrate outstanding qualities of leadership with ability to delegate authority and responsibility effectively and to hold subordinates accountable;
22. to exhibit good judgment, common sense and perception;
23. to exhibit the ability to face controversy, remain true to convictions and to live with a high-pressure job;
24. to speak well before large and small groups, expressing ideas in a logical and forthright manner;
25. to maintain professional development by reading and course work, attending conferences, working on professional committees, visiting other districts, and meeting with other Superintendents;
Management Functions
26. to coordinate and manage the district so that the school organization operates smoothly and efficiently. He/She must be able to coordinate the processes essential to achieving a smooth operation in all areas of the school district organization:
• Planning: determining needs, objectives and goals;
• Organization: assigning roles, responsibilities and establishing lines of communication;
• Control: ensuring that progress is being made toward priorities, disciplining, making necessary staff reallocations and changes and evaluations;
• Decision-making: data-collecting, analyzing data and choosing appropriately from a variety of decision-making techniques;
• Problem-solving: sensitivity to problems, formulating problem statements, and using a variety of problem solving techniques;
• Communication: giving and receiving information effectively both orally and in writing, facilitating the exchange of information, views and opinions; and
27. to perform such other duties as the majority of the Board may determine.
Note: This is a sample list of Superintendent's Duties.
Policy adopted:
2131
Administration
Superintendent of Schools
Appointment
The appointment of a Superintendent is a Board of Education (Board) responsibility. The Board may seek the advice and counsel of interested individuals or of an advisory committee, and it may choose consultants to assist in the selection. However, final selection shall rest with the Board after thorough consideration of qualified applicants.
The Board will, by majority vote, elect and fix the term of office (not to exceed three (3) years) and the salary of the Superintendent who shall serve as executive officer of the Board and who shall have authority and responsibility for the supervision of the school system.
The Board must submit the name and address of the candidate who accepts the election as a new Superintendent to the Commissioner of Education within seven (7) days of the decision.
The Commissioner of Education shall inform the Board, in writing, of the certification status of the candidate, within fourteen (14) days after receiving the name of the candidate from the Board.
The Board will not allow a Superintendent to assume the duties and responsibilities of the position until the Commissioner of Education provides written confirmation to the Board that the person to be employed is properly certified. In addition, the Board may require qualifications in addition to those prescribed by the State Board of Education.
Acting Superintendent Appointment
The Board may employ an Acting Superintendent, properly certified or not, for a probationary specified period, not to exceed one school year, with the approval of the Commissioner of Education. Such time may be extended by the Commissioner for good cause shown. During such probationary period, the Acting Superintendent shall assume all duties of the Superintendent for the time specified and shall successfully complete a school leadership program, approved by the State Board of Education, offered at a public or private institution of higher education in the State. At the conclusion of the probationary period, the Board may request the Commissioner of Education to grant a waiver of certification for the Acting Superintendent, allowing the Board, if desired, to appoint the Acting Superintendent as the District's permanent Superintendent.
Contract
At the time of employment or reemployment, the Board shall provide a written contract of employment which shall include, but not be limited to, salary, employment benefits, and term of office of such Superintendent.
The Board believes that the legislation of policies is the most important function of a Board of Education, and that the execution of the policies should be the function of the Superintendent.
Note: The Commissioner may waive certification for a school superintendent who (1) has at least three years of experience in the past ten years as a certified administrator with a superintendent certificate issued by another state, or (2) has successfully completed the probationary period as an acting superintendent and the Commissioner deems the individual to be exceptionally qualified for the position of superintendent.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Superintendent shall be the chief executive officer of the Board and the administrative head of all district schools. As such, he/she shall comply with all statutes and regulations as prescribed by law, will delegate authority for the operation of various segments of the school system, and shall be responsible to the Board for the results produced. Specific responsibilities shall include but not be limited to:
1. administer the development and maintenance of a positive educational program designed to meet the needs of the district and to carry out the policies of the Board;
2. recommend the number and types of positions required to provide proper personnel for the operation of such a program;
3. recommend policies on organization, finance, instruction, school facilities, and other functions of the school program;
4. nominate for appointment, to assign, and to define the duties of all personnel, subject to approval of the Board;
5. confer periodically with professional and lay groups concerning the school program and transmit to the Board suggestions gained from such conferences;
6. supervise the preparation and presentation of the annual budget to the Board for its approval;
7. keep the Board continually informed on the progress and condition of the schools;
8. attend and participate in all meetings of the Board unless directed otherwise;
9. conduct a continuous study of the __________ School system's curricula;
10. conduct a continuous study of school space needs; and
11. plan and supervise the transportation of district students in grades PK-8.
Qualifications and Responsibilities
By its nature, the position of Superintendent is an exacting position. In addition to the minimum duties specifically set forth by the Board, the Superintendent shall be of good character and of unquestionable morals and integrity; shall possess good judgment and common sense along with the ability to think clearly and independently, relying on facts instead of prejudices; shall demonstrate business and educational acumen and leadership; shall be able and willing to accept responsibility for his actions and be able and willing to delegate authority to others, accepting appropriate responsibility for their actions. The Superintendent shall have a strong personality and a capacity for maintaining the respect of educational leaders in neighboring towns and throughout Connecticut.
Appointment
The Board of Education will elect and fix the term of office and salary of a Superintendent who serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Board and has authority and responsibility for the supervision of the school system.
Note: Boards of Education for a municipality with a population of fewer than 10,000 residents; fewer than 2,000 resident students; or fewer than three public schools have the option to either employ a local superintendent or receive direction from another Board of Education's Superintendent, provided the legislative body of such other municipality authorized the use of such Superintendent. Each regional board of education shall provide for the supervision of the schools under its control by a Superintendent who shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Board.
At the request of the Superintendent, the Board shall provide a written contract of employment which includes salary, benefits and term of office of the Superintendent.
Each year, the Board will evaluate the Superintendent in accordance with guidelines and criteria mutually determined and agreed upon by both the Board and the Superintendent.
The Superintendent may delegate to other school personnel the authority to discharge any duties imposed upon the Superintendent by policy or by vote of the Board of Education. The delegation of authority will not relieve the Superintendent or responsibility for the action taken under such delegation.
Superintendent Evaluation
Annually, the Board will evaluate the Superintendent in accordance with guidelines and criteria mutually determined and agreed upon by both the Board and the Superintendent.
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
10-157 Superintendents. Relationship to local or regional board of education; written contract of employment, evaluation of superintendent by board of education.
10-222 Reports to state board of education.
Policy adopted: