Degree Name
Education Specialist (EdS)
Semester of Degree Completion
1981
Thesis Director
Donald W. Smitley
Abstract
The title of this thesis which is, "The Public School Superintendent in the Administration of Schools," deals with the roles of the superintendent in the selection and evaluation of school personnel, administration of schools, budgeting, physical plant and maintenance. It also deals with the problems which a superintendent encounters in the running of schools.
This thesis makes it clear that the superintendent's power to manage is derived from the school board, so his power in the exercise of duties is the perogative of the school board. As a chief executive of the school administration, he has some aides which are assistant superintendents, secretaries and principals to whom he delegates some of his powers.
Chapter I treats personnel administration whose system is not rubber-stamped for every school district because of variations in the population and wealth of school districts and the willingness of school boards to surrender some of their powers to the superintendents. Here there are guide lines on how the principals, teachers, secretaries and custodians are selected, and information materials for the announcement of job openings are given. This chapter also contains illustrations on who evaluates whom, instructional improvement plan and checklist-graphic-system which is illustrated in both bar and line graph. The stages of the evaluation are categorized as pre-evaluation conference, evaluation, post-evaluation conference and instructional improvement plan. Where and when to evaluate teachers and the qualities for the rating are outlined in the chapter.
Chapter II asserts that a superintendent as an executive employee of the school board should team up with the school board in professional negotiations because he guides and informs the board members on the educational functions of teachers. Both the board and the teachers will follow the format for negotiations. The chapter, on the other hand, maintains that, while the superintendent dances to the tune of the board, he will as well satisy the needs of the association's collective bargaining committee by providing available pertinent information concerning the principal resources of the district. It goes on to hold that it is good for the superintendent to play a central role for the interest of the students, teachers, the community, the board and himself.
In the chapter are suggestions for student studies and school discipline. The superintendent must employ competent principals, provide adequate budget, good physical plant and open lines of communication among people involved in the school. Here the writer emphasizes that a school superintendent must recognize the concerns and aspirations of the community and the competition for the district's limited resources among different local institutions.
Chapter III deals with budget and physical plant. Budget has these phases which are preparation, public inspection, approval and adoption, administration and appraisal. The superintendent prepares, administers and gives periodic reports on the budget. This chapter also has the definition of a physical plant, outlines the characteristics of sites for a safe physical plant, requirements for buildings, the maintenance and the position of a superintendent of schools in planning a school building.
Chapter IV identifies some of the sources of problems to the superintendent and contends that problem students are not born; they are made by environment, homes, peers and even schools. The chapter gives some solutions to the problems and warns against careless stringent measures to bring order. Other sources of problems are teachers, school boards, state and federal governments and certain interest groups in the community.
Problems from some of the teachers arise from incompetency, student and public pressures which make them disgusted and burned out. Some of the board members are ignorant, lack goal orientation and very often leave controversial matters to the superintendent. On the whole most of the essentials of this thesis are in the final summary.
Recommended Citation
Ezekigbo, Chuka J., "The Public School Superintendent in the Administration of Schools" (1981). Masters Theses. 2972.
https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/2972
