Does the board have too much power? Part 3 of 4...Matthew (Matt) Key, Georgia

 I was able to speak with a member of the board in the county in which I live.  This member has served on the local board for 3 years and is currently serving his fourth term. The questions were:  

1.      Do the statutes set by the State Board of Education limit the authority of the local board?

2.     What is your view of the relationship between the local board to the superintendent’s management of the operations, organization, and resources of the district?

3.     What is the relationship between the superintendent and the local board?

The answer for question two was that the superintendent was the only position that his board gets to appoint.  He feels that the relationship that the board has to the superintendent’s management of the operation, organization, and resources of the district is easy.  They trust him to do his job!  He stated that there are metrics in place to follow the performance of the superintendent.  He stated that the board sets policies for the organization of the school system and to make sure that the business of the schools is being carried out.  The metrics set are for the local board to follow how the schools are performing under the superintendent’s leadership.  Finally, the board sets policy on making sure that the superintendent is securing the necessary materials for the functionality of the schools and the education of its students.  The board monitors this by providing the funds for the needed resources based off of the superintendent’s request.

Matthew (Matt) Key, Georgia