This paper examines the evolution of the boundary-spanning role of the school superintendent and its impact on their ability to function effectively as educational leaders. This role, which is a relatively new development in the definition of superintendency, includes acting as a filtering agent controlling the flow of information in and out of…

To outsiders, the role of school superintendent has always been a little mystifying. This digest examines how superintendents are responding to their changing environment, what leadership strategies they are using, and whether the superintendency is in a state of crisis. Although fears exist of a dwindling pool of applicants, studies have shown…

This guidebook is intended to help school boards focus their efforts on understanding and achieving the elements of their key work. Chapter 1 discusses the concept of systems thinking as a framework for organizational thinking and learning. It also provides an overview of the key work of improving student achievement. This work focuses on eight…

This report describes the implementation of School-Based Decision-Making (SBDM) Councils. The research drew on a stratified random sample of high schools, middle and junior high schools, and elementary schools geographically distributed throughout the eight service regions of Kentucky. The paper also details the types of decisions being made by…

This paper examines system leadership and the role of system heads, using data from interviews of state system leaders (board members and chief executives), as well as campus heads and selected state and association officials. System heads have crucial responsibilities within public higher education. The relationship between board members and…

Two potentially successful forms of search and selection are distinguished: one using separate committees for search and screening and for selection, and one using a single committee combining membership from the board, faculty, administrators, students, and alumni. Five caveats are offered regardless of committee approach. (MSE)

Two surveys, taken 10 years apart, describe college presidents' tenure in their positions and their reasons for leaving. Those reasons include achievement of objectives, a longer-than-average term, becoming chancellor, governing board relationships, faculty relations, family needs, physical stamina, retrenchment, and merger. (MSE)

A survey of board chairmen and presidents is discussed and it was discovered that how well chairman and president work together depends less on any characteristic of the institution than on the personal factor, the degree of trust and respect the two feel for each other. (Author/MLW)

The major theme of the Carnegie Commission's report is that higher education has a good record for integrity. However, there are serious concerns: grade inflation, recruiting practices, vandalism. Governing boards can play an important role in addressing the problems. One example is the survey inspired by the University of Delaware board.…

Reviews the current roles and responsibilities of college presidents and board members in maintaining good relationships, and proposes a new board structure along with a mechanism for joint review. (RC)

The school board's decision not to renew the contract of Norward Roussell, Selma, Alabama's first Black superintendent, prompted protests followed by a week-long closure of the schools. Summarizes the events and Roussell's analysis of the problems. (MLF)

Boards should clearly establish what is expected of the university president, including the six elements of good leadership: tolerance of freedom, tolerance of uncertainty, the ability to integrate motives and efforts into a meaningful aggregate, the ability to persuade, the ability to represent the institution, and influence with superiors. (MSE)

Great diversity exists among communities as to how school districts should be managed. The causes and possible solutions to managing this diversity are the focus of the discussion. Goal setting, performance appraising, policy developing and participative developing of the board meeting agenda are several ways to clarify roles and to achieve…

A school board member and a superintendent realized in their three years of working together in a Florida school district how crucial the board/superintendent relationship is to a smoothly running school district. Advises board members and superintendents to keep their roles straight and to work as a team. Offers guidelines to board presidents.…