The Board sets policy and supports the superintendent in administering the schools. Furthermore, the Board keeps the superintendent informed of community reaction to school programs, maintains open communication with the superintendent, providing the benefit of the Board's council, and holds the superintendent accountable for results. Based on this set of principles, local school concerns primarily come to the Board through the administration and the superintendent. On the other hand, in gathering community reaction, Board members learn of specific concerns from parents, students, or staff, which they in turn carry back to the superintendent. Maintaining open communication is the key.
Board members come from the community and serve as a volunteer policy-making body.
Most board members are not trained as professionals in K-12 education, whereas the superintendent, administrators, and credentialed teachers are. Consequently, the Board brings its community perspective to setting policy, but honors the expertise of the professional staff. The superintendent, in turn, must establish clear reporting relationships within the staff, and between each school site and the district office. If a site-based management system is adopted, the Board honors that system, and supports the superintendent in making it work successfully. Identify any potential conflict of interest you might have and state how you would overcome that conflict.