This case study involves a new school superintendent, unions, parent groups, and a school board. The case demonstrates how the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic impacted the relationships between a school board, teacher and administrator unions, parent organizations, and the school superintendent. It is the story of…

This study examines whether board diversity, board practices, and principal influence over board decisions impact board effectiveness across independent schools in Victoria, Australia, and to what extent board effectiveness is associated with academic and financial performance of the schools. Analyses were based on survey data from board Chairs…

The position of superintendent has long been characterized by high rates of turnover. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that influence the anticipated length of service of the current superintendents in a Midwestern state. It examined superintendent responses to determine trends affecting length of tenure. The findings of this…

In the fall of 2018, all school superintendents in a state in the southwest were invited to take part in a survey which included a section related to superintendent perceptions of the board's evaluation process for superintendents. The present article addresses the factors perceived to be important in evaluations of superintendents by governing…

Charter school stakeholders in South Carolina, including officials at the South Carolina Department of Education, personnel at the Public Charter School Alliance of South Carolina, and leaders of South Carolina charter schools, expressed interest in understanding the leadership characteristics and practices of charter school leaders across the…

Locally controlled public schools are one of the cornerstones of our nation's democracy, yet many schools are not preparing students for success. Far too many students are not graduating, and many of those who do graduate are woefully unprepared for college or a meaningful career. Successfully initiating and sustaining meaningful improvements in…

In 1985, a leadership liaison committee consisting of the board presidents and executive directors of five state school management associations in Pennsylvania appointed a task force to examine the board-superintendent relationship within a team management framework. After providing background information, including various definitions associated…

The effective evaluation of superintendents can be of great use to both school boards and the superintendents themselves. This booklet on superintendent evaluation begins with an outline of the general development of evaluation methods from informal assessments to sophisticated, mutually conducted, written performance reviews. The uses of essay…

Developed for use with 90 school systems in Western Pennsylvania, this manual was field tested and modified in some of those systems. It allows school board members to test themselves on six important aspects of school board operation: (1) the conduct of meetings, (2) relationship with the administrative staff, (3) educational program improvement,…

The purpose of this study was to collect data from 40 school superintendents who were newly hired in Washington school districts just prior to the 1986-87 school year, assess the conditions within a school district when hiring a superintendent; and evaluate expectations placed upon a new chief executive by the board of education. Thirty-eight…

This two-part survey, devised by the California School Boards Association, is designed to provide an assessment of school district needs and to assist a board of education in setting priorities for evaluation of the district superintendent. The first part, which evaluates the status of the district, includes questions relating to administrative…

Given the relatively few positions on the governing boards of public colleges and universities, every trusteeship is important. Along with the respect appropriately afforded trustees and regents comes special obligations, responsibilities, and high expectations from many sources. How boards can cope with the expectations and ambiguities inherent…

Summarizes the characteristics of a winning school board team and provides a "togetherness index" to help boards evaluate their effectiveness. (MLF)

The Gaston County (North Carolina) board and superintendent have developed a board self-evaluation questionnaire and a community questionnaire to improve the board's effectiveness as a policy-making body. The 30-item community questionnaire is appended. (MLF)

This paper presents the findings of a single case study of a particular board of education's decision-making process in a crisis situation, and explores interpretation of those findings from two theoretical perspectives. The crisis resulted from the charges against and conviction of the superintendent for a sexual assault on a 17-year-old female…