He was invited to discuss his thoughts on how to develop a productive and effective relationship between a superintendent of schools and a board of education. The goal of the association is to enhance the skills and knowledge of Union County board members.
Tradition holds that a member can be appointed to two full terms.
Tradition also holds that, while the president is elected at the May reorganization meeting, the board members rotate through that position based upon their years of experience on the board and their personal preferences. The appointed board has worked extremely well for the Summit community. There are certain advantages over an elected board, but when it comes down to relationship building, we are no different than any elected board of education. The board members and the superintendent need to continuously clarify their roles and expectations, ensure good communication, work to build trust and mutual respect, work toward improved decision-making, and then take the time to evaluate themselves as a team. And it is in these five areas where the New Jersey School Boards Association and its field representative Carol Larsen have helped our board over the years.