West Lafayette board elects Amy Austin president after debate over president’s authority; vice, secretary chosen

The West Lafayette Community School Corporation Board of Trustees on Jan. 13 elected incumbent board member Amy Austin president by a 4-3 vote after a contentious discussion about the limited formal authority of the board president and how the president should interact with the superintendent.

The matter drew sustained attention because several trustees said past practice had allowed a board president to intercede with the superintendent in a way they argued exceeded the office's legal authority. "No individual board member has the authority to direct the superintendent," said Stacia Mumford, a trustee who nominated Lawrence Wong for president. Mumford told colleagues that state law and board policy limit the president’s formal powers to actions such as calling special meetings and, after board approval, signing contracts on the corporation’s behalf. "They do not have the authority to direct the superintendent,"…