Perhaps the most important decision a board makes is to hire a qualified superintendent to lead and manage education throughout the district or supervisory union. Boards provide oversight; they do not manage day-today operations of the school system. Vermont law designates the superintendent as the chief executive officer for the supervisory union/district. As the CEO, the superintendent is accountable for the operations of the entire school system.
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To employ a well qualified and capable superintendent, a board needs to be in a position to assure mutual accountability between the Board and the superintendent. The Board is accountable to provide clear direction and set priorities for the superintendent. The superintendent is then accountable to deliver on the priorities of the Board.
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Policy: Please see the VSBA's Model Policy Manual for a recommended policy on board/superintendent relations.