The Roles and Responsibility of the School Committee

Lately, I've been answering the same questions over and over about
what it is that the school committee does and is responsible for. I
wanted to clear the air a bit, which is why I'm writing. I wrote this
several years ago and have answered some of the common questions that
have resulted.

The School Committee's role is to oversee the schools. Our
specific roll is to set policy, oversee the budget, and hire/fire the
superintendent.

While we may approve curriculum as part of overseeing of the
budget, we do not create curriculum content. The curriculum
frameworks is largely state mandated and the specific content is the
job of the Superintendent and his staff. These responsibilities were
spelled out clearly in the Education Reform Act in 1993.

We have one employee which is the superintendent. The
superintendent has hiring/firing power over his direct reports which
are the principals, department heads, etc. If this were a business,
the school committee would be the board of directors and the
superintendent would be the CEO.

A good deal of our policy is set by Massachusetts State and
Federal laws.

The School Committee does not raise tax revenue or set tax rates.
That is the job of the Selectmen. We are one line item in the overall
town budget which is approved by the voters at Town Meeting.

We have no input into individual discipline cases, however, we do
set policy to address issues such as Bullying. Addressing individual
cases is the role of the School Administration.

We have a strict chain of command for issues raised by
individuals. Individual complaints should be raised to the teacher,
principal and superintendent in that order. It is not appropriate for
a school committee member to circumvent this chain of command.

A school committee member has no authority as an individual.
School committee members only have authority as a board and while in
session.

We have a rigorous, evidence based health curriculum that
addresses everything from mental and physical health and well being
to social pressures and coping techniques.

We have comprehensive inclusion programs that address issues like
bulling.

We have open meetings about every two weeks. During this time, we
have time for public comment. If people are shy about speaking during
public comment, many of the school committee member's phone numbers
are in the book. If that doesn't work, the superintendent will be
glad to pass messages along.

My job as an elected official is to do what the citizens of
Stoneham would like me to do within the powers I have. I see my
biggest role as making sure that you, the citizens of Stoneham, get
the best value for your tax dollar paid.

High quality schools means a desirable town which in turn means
high home values and a high standard of living for all of us.

Thanks for your time.

-David Maurer, Stoneham School
Committee Member