Results Committee requires explanations for extreme ratings, replaces gap-closure metric with superintendent projects and reweights evaluation

The Results Committee on Sept. 23 voted to change how it evaluates the district superintendent, approving three related measures: a new requirement that board members write a short explanation when they give the superintendent an extreme rating; the removal of a “gap-closure” metric and its replacement with superintendent projects selected by the board and superintendent; and a reweighting of measurable components so student achievement carries 30 percent of the evaluation.

The committee unanimously approved a motion that board members who give the superintendent a rating of 1 or 4 must include “a minimum of 2 to 3 sentence explanation.” The motion, read during the meeting, states the requirement will take effect for the 2024–2025 academic year and subsequent years. The motion was adopted by voice vote of members present; online participants did not participate in the voice vote.

Committee members said the explanation requirement aims to make feedback constructive and actionable. Mr. Dallas supported the change, saying, “Part of a performance review is to help guide to greater performance, and that includes some degree of specificity so the person knows what we’ve seen and then what they…