The Board shall employ a superintendent to serve as the executive officer of the Board of Directors, to conduct the daily operations of the school district, and to implement board policy with the power and duties prescribed by the Board and the law.

The Board shall only consider applicants that meet or exceed the standards set by the State Department of Education and the qualifications established in the job description for the position.  In employing a superintendent, the Board shall consider the qualifications, credentials, and records of the applicants without regard to race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, age, or disability.  In keeping with the law, however, the Board will consider the veteran status of the applicants.  The Board will look closely at the training, experience, skill and demonstrated competence of qualified applicants in making its final decision.

In choosing a superintendent, the Board shall also consider the school district’s educational philosophy, budget, organizational structure, educational programs, licensed staff, and any factors about the school district deemed relevant by the Board.

The Board may contract for assistance in the search for a superintendent.

Legal Reference:  29 U.S.C. §§621-634
                                       42 U.S.C. §§2000e et seq
                                       Iowa Code Chapters, 20, 70, 601A, §§279.8, .20 (1991)
                                       281 Iowa Admin. Code 12.4(4)
                                       1980 Op. Att’y Gen. 367

Cross Reference:  200.3    Powers of the Board of Directors
                                       200.4    Responsibilities of the Board of Directors
                                       301        Administrative Structure
                                       303        Superintendent

Approved:  2-10-92              
Reviewed:  3-13-23              
Revised:  3-10-08

The length of the contract for employment between the superintendent and the board is determined by the board.  The contract will begin on July 1 and end on June 30.  The contract will state the terms of employment and shall not exceed three years.

The first three consecutive years of a contract issued to a newly employed superintendent is considered a probationary period.  The probationary period may be extended for an additional year upon the consent of the superintendent.  In the event of termination of a probationary or nonprobationary contract, the board will afford the superintendent appropriate due process, as required by law.  The superintendent and board may mutually agree to terminate the superintendent’s contract at any time.

It is the responsibility of the board to provide the contract for the superintendent.  The board may issue a temporary and nonrenewable contract in accordance with law. 

If the superintendent wishes to resign, to be released from a contract, or to retire, the superintendent must comply with applicable law and board policies. 

Legal Reference:  Martin v. Waterloo Community School District, 518 N.W. 2d 381 (Iowa 1994)
                                      Cook v Plainfield Community School District, 301 N.W.2d 771 (Iowa App. 1980)
                                      Board of Education of Fort Madison Community School District v Youel, 282 N.W.2d 677 (Iowa 1979)
                                      Briggs v Board of Directors of Hinton Community School District, 282 N.W.2d 740 (Iowa 1979)
                                      Luse v. Waco Community School  District of Henry Co., 258 Iowa 1087, 141 N.W.2d 607 (1966)
                                      Iowa Code §279
                                      281 I.A.C 12.4

Cross Reference:  302        Superintendent

Approved:  2-10-92              
Reviewed:  3-13-23              
Revised:  1-08-18

The Board has complete discretion to set the salary of the superintendent.  The Board shall set the salary and fringe benefits at a level mutually agreeable to both the Board and the superintendent.

It shall be the responsibility of the Board to set the salary of the superintendent at a level that will include consideration of, but not be limited to, the economic condition of the school district and the training, experience, skill, and demonstrated competence of the superintendent.  The salary shall be agreed upon at the beginning of each contract term.

In addition to the salary and benefits agreed upon, the superintendent’s actual and necessary expenses will be paid by the school district when the superintendent is performing school business.  The expenses include, but are not limited to, mileage and dues to professional organizations.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §279.20 (1991)

Cross Reference:  303        Superintendent

Approved:  2-10-92              
Reviewed:  3-13-23              
Revised:  5-8-95

The overall responsibility for the administration of the school system shall be delegated to the superintendent, who shall perform the various administrative functions in accord with the policies and actions of the Board of Directors.  The superintendent shall be vested with the necessary authority and be provided the appropriate personnel to carry out the broad responsibilities of the position.

The superintendent shall be authorized to organize the administration in such a matter as to facilitate the most efficient and effective operation of the District.  The superintendent shall have the discretion to delegate to other school personnel the exercise of any authority and the discharge of any responsibilities imposed upon the superintendent by law, agency regulations, or Board action.  The delegation of power or duty, however, shall not relieve the superintendent of accountability for the results of such delegation.

In addition to serving as chief administrator, the superintendent shall function as professional advisor to and chief executive officer of the Board of Directors.  As such, he shall be directly responsible to the Board for the execution of its policies and decisions, consistent with legal requirements and with ethical standards of the profession.  The superintendent shall have the power to make rules and render decisions, not in conflict with the law or with Board policies or actions.

The superintendent shall be permitted to attend all meetings of the Board and shall be granted the privilege of taking part in all deliberations, but shall not vote.

The responsibilities of the superintendent shall be enumerated more specifically in a job description which, however, shall not act to limit the broad authority and responsibilities of the office.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§279.8. .20 (1991)
                                       281 Iowa Admin. Code 12.4(4)

Cross Reference:  200.3    Powers of the Board of Directors
                                       200.4    Responsibilities of the Board of Directors
                                       301        Administrative Structure
                                       303        Superintendent

Approved:  2-10-92              
Reviewed:  3-13-23              
Revised:             

The board will conduct an on-going evaluation of the superintendent’s skills, abilities, and competence.  At a minimum, the board will formally evaluate the superintendent on an annual basis.  The goal of the superintendent’s formal evaluation is to ensure the education program for the students is carried out, promote growth in effective administrative leadership, clarify the superintendent’s role, clarify the immediate priorities of the board, and develop a working relationship between the board and the superintendent.

The superintendent will be an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by:

• Facilitating the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by the school community.
• Advocating, nurturing, and sustaining a school culture and instructional program conducive to student learning and staff professional development.
• Ensuring management of the organization, operations and resources for a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment.
• Collaborating with families and community members, responding to diverse community interests and needs and mobilizing community resources.
• Acting with integrity, fairness, and in an ethical manner.
• Understanding the profile of the community, and responding to and influencing the larger social, economic, legal, and political context.

The formal evaluation will be based upon the following principles:

• The evaluation criteria will be in writing, clearly stated, and mutually agreed upon by the board and the superintendent.  The criteria will be related to the job description and the school district’s goals;
• At a minimum, the evaluation process will be conducted annually at a time agreed upon;
• Each board member will have an opportunity to individually evaluate the superintendent, and these individual evaluations will be compiled into an overall evaluation by the entire board;
• The superintendent will conduct a self-evaluation prior to discussing the board’s evaluation, and the board as a whole will discuss its evaluation with the superintendent;
• The board may discuss its evaluation of the superintendent in closed session upon a request from the superintendent and if the board determines its discussion in open session will needlessly and irreparably injure the superintendent’s reputation; and,
• The individual evaluation by each board member, if individual board members so desire, will not be reviewed by the superintendent.  Board members are encouraged to communicate their criticisms and concerns to the superintendent in the closed session.  The board president will develop a written summary of the individual evaluations, including both the strengths and weaknesses of the superintendent, and place it in the superintendent’s personnel file to be incorporated into the next cycle of evaluations.

This policy supports and does not preclude the ongoing, informal evaluation of the superintendent’s skills, abilities, and competence.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§279.8, .20, .23, .23A (1991)
                                       281 Iowa Admin. Code 12.3(4)

Cross Reference:  213        Closed Meetings of the Board of Directors
                                       302.1    Administration and the Board of Directors
                                       303        Superintendent

Approved:  2-10-92              
Reviewed:  3-13-23              
Revised:  12-15-08

The Board encourages the superintendent to continue professional growth by being involved in professional organizations, attending conferences, continuing the superintendent’s education, and participating in other professional activities.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to arrange the superintendent’s schedule of events in order to enable attendance at various conferences and events.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §279.8 (1991)
                                       281 Iowa Admin. Code 12.7, 85.12, 86.28, 88

Cross Reference:  219.2    Board of Directors Development and Training

Approved:  2-10-92              
Reviewed:  3-13-23              
Revised:             

The Board encourages the superintendent to be involved in the district community by belonging to community organizations and attending and participating in community activities.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to become involved in community activities and events.  It shall be within the discretion of the Board to pay annual fees for involvement in any community organization.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §279.8 (1991)

Cross Reference:  1007      Other Interdistrict Relations

Approved:  2-10-92              
Reviewed:  3-13-23              
Revised:             

If the superintendent’s position is considered full-time employment, the Board expects the superintendent to give the responsibilities of the position precedence over other employment.  The superintendent may accept consulting or outside employment for pay as long as, in the judgment of the Board, the work is conducted on the superintendent’s personal time and it does not interfere with the performance of the superintendent’s duties contracted by the Board.

The Board reserves the right, however, to request that the superintendent cease the outside employment as a condition of continued employment.  The Board shall give the superintendent thirty (30) days notice to cease outside employment.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §279.8, .20 (1991)

Cross Reference:  303.2    Superintendent Contract and Contract Non-Renewal
                                       303.4    Superintendent Duties

Approved:  2-10-92              
Reviewed:  3-13-23              
Revised:  5-8-95