Election 2011: District 86 Candidates on their Roles

What do you think is the role of the Hinsdale Township High School District 86 School Board, and how do you see the relationship between the board and the superintendent?

The board of education sets policy for the district, oversees the $80 million budget, approves all personnel hired to work in the district, determines the vision and the goals for the district, and employs the superintendent. The board maintains, enhances, and encourages all educational opportunities and extra-curricular activities for all students of District 86.  

The superintendent reports directly to the board of education and is the only employee of the board.  There must be a high level of trust and respect between the board and superintendent as they work very closely together guiding and overseeing the district. The day-to-day business of running the district is left up to the administrative team, who directly reports to the superintendent.  The board does not and should not be involved in the daily business of the district. It is not its role.

The role of a school board is to hire a superintendent, set school policy and evaluate the superintendent’s work in relation to the school districts goals. 

The relationship between the board and the superintendent is a working relationship that offers mutual respect and has the same goals and vision.

The role of the board is to oversee that students are being provided a free, appropriate public education in a fiscally responsible manner. To that end, they employ a superintendent to carry out those duties. The relationship between board and superintendent is to give him/her the latitude to operate the schools and execute strategies under the parameters and policies laid out by the board.

The board of education is elected by the community, then hires the superintendent. Once on board, the superintendent is responsible for executing board policy (which the board is responsible for articulating); he or she reports to the board and recommends actions deemed necessary and proper for promoting the interests of the district.  It is the board’s responsibility to review the actions of the superintendent, and to assess his or her performance. The board needs to provide guidance for the superintendent in the event its assessments show the superintendent is deviating from the board’s perception of the district’s best interest.

Ultimately, by state law, the board of education is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the schools. It is my view that the board needs to be sure both it and the administration are accountable to the community. The board needs to demonstrate the willingness and ability to provide that accountability. When it demonstrates that capability, the board and superintendent should be able to function as a team to deliver the quality education services the community expects and deserves.

The board of education is elected by the district's citizens and is responsible for articulating and setting forth the district's policy. The board hires the superintendent, who is to implement and successfully execute board policy. The superintendent reports to the board and recommends actions deemed necessary and proper for promoting the interests of the district as well as the execution of board policy. The board reviews the actions of the superintendent and assesses his/her work performance. The board provides guidance for the superintendent in the event its assessments show the superintendent is deviating from the board’s perception of the district’s best interest. A successful superintendent exhibits the ability to attract and hire the best staff possible, develop new and innovative curriculum, be financially cost efficient, provide a safe and nurturing environment for the students, and advise the board of resources and programs needed to accomplish the above and be a leader within our community. 

Additionally, a successful board should, and superintendent must, demonstrate, a willingness and ability to provide that accountability. As a result, the board and superintendent function as a team to deliver the quality education services the community expects and deserves. 

The relationship between the board and the superintendent parallels the relationship in private industry between the CEO and the board of directors. The superintendent is hired and evaluated by the board. The board bears the ultimate responsibility for the running of the district. It is the board’s’s responsibility to hire the best superintendent possible and make clear to him or her what the parameters are within which the superintendent will operate. The mission to the superintendent, in my opinion, is to hire the best staff possible, financially be cost efficient, provide a safe and nurturing environment for the students, and advise the board of resources and programs needed to accomplish the above. The board is NOT to supervise the day-to-day running of the schools. That is the superintendent’s responsibility. If the superintendent is unable or unwilling to implement the board’s goals, a superintendent needs to be found who can accomplish those goals.