Understanding the Superintendency - The Role of the School Board: A Basic Overview
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOktYYlbzQPCl006F-BAd1p0KACV-shWzO_OJwvXufC_DSlJpuOQNY1urQT5_E1HZt9gkhtZfDhWy03F7yGB_nS_MjtgdMp3MdWWfA5onfTkLMepT9mNiT3bnLFYNsKyFIxloJ2k4ya9H/s320/Understanding+the+Superintendency+.png)
In recognition of School Board Member Appreciation Day last week, here is a primer on what it means to be a school board member. As a superintendent I have a single supervisor that consists of 7 people. These 7 volunteers are elected to serve as representatives of the community. As community members indicate they are interested in serving as Board members, before they run for a 4-year term, I share this document with them: “ What it Means to Serve on the Board ” that serves as an introduction to the role. I also meet with them and share my experiences as a superintendent, but also as a former board member. Most of this information I provide is from the Illinois Association of School Boards , the professional organization that supports school board members in Illinois. The IASB outlines 6 main responsibilities of a school board: Clarifies the district's purpose Connects with the community Employs a superintendent Delegates authority Monitors performance Takes respons