Policy 3:40
Superintendent of Schools (Requires Type 75 Certificate)
Primary Function
The Superintendent of Schools is the chief executive officer of the
school system and is responsible to the Board of Education to administer
the school system within the policies of the Board and laws of the
State of Illinois. The Superintendent plans, develops and directs the
overall educational program to fulfill the educational needs of all
pupils and to achieve the educational objective established by the Board
of Education. S/he directs and is responsible for all activities of
the school system.
Organizational Relationships
The Superintendent reports directly to the Board of Education. The following positions report directly to the Superintendent:
- Administrator for Curriculum/Instruction
- Administrator for Finance/Operations
- Administrator for Human Resources
- Administrator for Student and Special Services
- Principals
Assigned Responsibilities
- Direct the long-term planning of educational program and operations
of the school system in order to provide for the future educational
needs of the community.
- Provide professional leadership in education throughout the school
system; and study, keep informed of and stimulate interest in the staff
in new developments in education.
- Develop, recommend and maintain educational and operating policies
for consideration and action by the Board of Education; advise the Board
on policy matters, as requested; and put into effect and administer
approved policies.
- Establish and maintain a sound organizational structure which
provides all essential functions of the school system; and recommend,
for Board approval, organizational revisions to meet changing
conditions.
- Direct, administer, coordinate and control, through the appropriate
Administrator, Administrative council and the Principals, the
educational program and the operations of all schools in the system.
- Approve and recommend to the Board the promotion, transfer or
dismissal of all administrative and professional staff in the system.
Report to the Board the case of any professional employee whose service
is unsatisfactory and recommend appropriate action.
- Direct and administer the supporting personnel services of the
school system including: the recruitment, employment, and retention of
all certified and non-certified personnel, staff development, and
coordination of student teaching practices and substitutes.
- Attend and participate in all Board Meetings; keep the Board
informed relative to the educational program and school operations;
prepare the agenda for Board Meetings and serve as Secretary to the
Board, consulting with the Board President and incorporating agenda
requests from Board Members, staff members or citizens; and prepare
reports of Board Meetings.
- Establish, with the approval of the Board, rules and regulations needed for the direction and control of staff and students.
- Assume such additional duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board of Education.
In addition, the Superintendent will:
- Direct and administer through the Administrator for
Curriculum/Instruction the supporting professional services of the
school system including: the organization and supervision of the
Instructional Materials Center; the supervision of librarians; services
for the gifted; psychological services; school social work and guidance
services; health services; speech and language services; district-wide
pupil appraisal services; pupil progress reporting procedures;
State/Federal programs and summer school.
- Direct and administer through the Administrator for
Finance/Operations the supporting business and plant services of the
school system in an efficient and economical manner, including: general
business, secretarial, budgeting, accounting, and purchasing services;
plant operation and maintenance; transportation; school cafeteria
services; district-wide field trip program; and implement the procedures
pertaining to the Illinois Textbook Law.
- Direct and administer through the Administrator for Human
Resources/Special Projects the salary administration and personnel
benefits program; employee recruitment and selection processes; employee
assistance program; contract management; employee discipline, Title VII
and Title IX compliance, substitute and student teacher services.
- Coordinate and direct the preparation of a recommended annual
school budget to meet the objectives of the educational program; present
and interpret the recommended budget to the Board of Education; and
administer the approved budget efficiently and economically through the
Administrator for Finance/Operations.
- Coordinate and direct continuous appraisal of school plant needs;
develop the educational specifications of new buildings consistent with
Board policy on school and class size; and exercise general supervision
over the design of new buildings and changes to existing buildings.
Additional Tasks Include
- Represent the District at authorized Township functions and cooperative programs.
- Administer, as Secretary of the Board, school election procedures.
- Assist in directing the data processing services of the District.
- Consider and act on all requests for exemption or changes in school attendance boundaries.
Authority
The Superintendent is authorized to take any reasonable action
necessary to carry out the responsibilities assigned to them so long as
such action does not deviate from established policies and practices
defined by the Board of Education and is consistent with sound
professional judgment. Should an emergency occur which is not
specifically by any policy or action of the Board, s/he shall exercise
the full power and authority of the Board and report the action to the
Board at the earliest opportunity and no later than its next meeting.
The Superintendent is authorized to approve operating and capital
expenditures within the limits of approved budgets. Any expenditures
involving major projects beyond budget limits must have prior Board
approval.
The Superintendent is authorized to disapprove personnel actions
submitted by direct subordinates affecting individuals reporting to
those subordinates. The Superintendent recommends all personnel actions
affecting direct subordinates to the Board of Education for approval.
The Superintendent may delegate to appropriate administrators and
professional staff the responsibility and authority to discharge
appropriate duties and responsibilities vested in him/her by the Board
of Education. However, the delegation of such duties does not relieve
the Superintendent of the ultimate responsibility for all activities of
the school system.
NOTE: The Superintendent’s work year shall be from July 1st to
June 30th with twenty (20) days of vacation or as specified in the
contract between the Board of Education and the Superintendent. Fringe
benefits will be according to Board policy.
Adopted: 03/05/2001
Revised: 02/15/2005