Rules and Regulations of the School Committee — 1927



Effective School Boards

CHAPTER VI.
THE SUPERINTENDENT.


Rule 1. The Superintendent of Schools shall be elected by a majority vote of the full Board at the regular meeting in April for an initial term of three years beginning the first of August next following his election; and thereafter in accordance with Chapter 71, Section 41, of the Massachusetts General Laws. His salary shall be fixed by majority vote of the Committee.

Rule 2. He shall be the executive officer of the School Board and under its direction and control shall have full charge of the schools of the city of Holyoke and authority over all employees of the School Department.

Rule 3. He shall perform the duties of Secretary of the Board and shall keep a permanent record book, in which shall be recorded the proceedings of the Board and attendance of the members, and shall have charge of all books, documents, papers, and files.

Rule 4. He shall notify the members of the Board of its regular and special meetings, and the members of any standing, district, or special committee of their meetings when requested by the Chairman or two members of such committee, and give such other notices as the Board may require. He shall inform the chairman of any special committee of its purpose and the names of its members. He shall attend all meetings of the Board, standing, district, and special committees, and shall have the right to speak upon all questions under discussion, but not to vote.

Rule 5. He shall transmit to members of the Board, committees, teachers, or other persons, to whom they properly belong, copies of votes, resolutions or documents.

Rule 6. He shall attend to the enforcement of the statutes relating to the education and the employment of minors and shall authorize the issue of labor certificates to employees, and of suitable blanks to employers for record of the same.

Rule 7. He shall prepare a roster of the public schools so that it may be printed and ready for distribution on or before the first day of February of each year.

Rule 8. He shall have charge of all property not otherwise provided for, and the distribution of books and supplies authorized to be furnished, and he shall keep a record of the same.

Rule 9. He shall keep accounts of all the expenditures of the Board, which shall always be open to the inspection of the members and of the public.

Rule 10. He shall prepare the pay rolls in accordance with the regulations and orders of the Board.

Rule 11. He shall sign all requisitions for supplies received from the principals of the various schools and no such supplies shall be delivered without his approval.

Rule 12. He shall attend to the preparations of the diplomas which have been awarded to the members of the graduating classes.

Rule 13. He shall prepare the annual report required by the statutes of the Commonwealth, and transmit the same, legally signed, to the Secretary of the State Department of Education, on or before the required date.

Rule 14. He shall be authorized to secure leading educators to discuss general topics of education and to discuss modern methods showing how to develop the best work in teaching.

Rule 15. He shall devote himself to the study of the public school system, and keep himself acquainted with the progress of educational improvements in other cities, in order to suggest appropriate means for the advancement of the public schools of this city.

Rule 16. He shall have the absolute power to appoint his teachers in the day and evening schools, and beads of departments in the High and Vocational Schools. The term of service of teachers so appointed to the day schools shall continue until the first meeting in June following the appointment, at which time the Board may proceed to ratify or reject the appointments of the Superintendent.

Rule 17. He shall assign and transfer teachers subject to the approval of the full Board.

Rule 18. He shall use all possible care to see that the number of teachers employed, the number of pupils assigned to the care of any teacher, and the arrangement of the school work are such as shall make the administration of the schools efficient and economical.

Rule 19. He may give permission to teachers to visit other schools or educational conferences two days in the year, but in no case shall such visits be made during the months of September, October, or June. Principals may be given two days in addition to the above for visiting educational institutions or conferences.

Rule 20. He may supply a substitute at any time to fill a vacancy owing to the temporary absence or a teacher.

Rule 21. He may at any time suspend an employee when in his judgment the best interests of the schools so demand; and he shall report the same to the Board at the next regular meeting.

Rule 22. He shall have entire charge of the classification, transfer, examination, and promotion of pupils.

Rule 23. He shall visit each school as often as his other duties will permit, that he may obtain a personal knowledge of the condition of all the schools, and be able to suggest improvements and remedy defects in their management

Rule 24. He shall determine the forms of all registers, record books, blanks, and cards used in the schools.

Rule 25. He shall consult with those who have control of the building and altering of school houses, and shall communicate to them such information on the subject as he may possess. He shall suggest such plans as he may consider best for the health and convenience of the teachers and pupils. and most economical for the city.

Rule 26. Upon request the Superintendent shall present to the Board a brief report, giving an account of the attendance, condition, and cost of the schools to date, together with such facts and suggestions as he may deem advisable.

Rule 27. He shall present to the Board in January, through the special committee on Annual Report, a complete report of the school system.

Rule 28. The Superintendent shall confer with principals and teachers as to the best methods of instruction and discipline. He shall see that the subject matter taught and the methods of instruction are essentially uniform in the same grades in different schools. He shall hold and cause to be held meetings of teachers for discussion and comparison of work, and shall use all means not inconsistent with the rules and regulations to promote harmony and efficiency throughout all the schools.

Rule 29. The Superintendent shall devote his entire time to the duties of his position. Unless official duties compel his absence he shall be in his office during a fixed period on every school day, such time to be outside of regular school hours.

All Questions concerning the authority, power and duty of the Superintendent under these rules shall be settled by the Committee on Rules, Salaries and Finance. The decision of this committee, however, is subject to appeal to the full Board.






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