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Board, superintendent align on operating agreement and evaluation work plan; expect July reaffirmation
Summary
Board and superintendent discussed a draft Board‑Superintendent Operating Agreement covering roles, communications, decision‑making and superintendent evaluation. Directors asked to add adherence to the superintendent contract and to raise the prominence of being student‑focused in expectation lists.
The Bend‑La Pine Schools Board of Directors and Superintendent Dr. Steven Cook reviewed a draft Board‑Superintendent Operating Agreement during the Sept. 23 work session and discussed how the document should function as an annual commitment.
Cook said the operating agreement should be revisited and signed each July so new board members can commit to the expectations when the board reorganizes. Directors agreed the document functions as a mutual statement of roles, communications protocols, decision‑making arrangements and expectations for conduct.
In the operating agreement discussion, several board members requested a specific line stating that the board will adhere to the terms of the superintendent’s employment contract. Directors also recommended moving the item that asks the board to remain “student focused” higher in the list of superintendent expectations; several suggested placing that item near the top rather than as the tenth bullet.
The agreement also spells out communication norms: board members should attempt to route questions about agenda items to the superintendent or board chair in advance when possible, with the aim of avoiding surprises; the chair and vice chair — working with the superintendent and board clerk — will set the formal agenda, with a mechanism allowing three board members to place items on a future agenda if the chair and vice chair decline to add them.
Board members discussed how goals should be coordinated across three levels — board goals, district/organizational goals and superintendent goals — and noted the district has not consistently maintained that alignment in recent years. Cook said drafting a clearer connection among board goals, superintendent goals and district strategic initiatives is part of the work plan and should be a priority for upcoming sessions.
Directors asked staff to return a revised operating agreement to be considered in October and to include a July reaffirmation step in the annual calendar. No formal vote was taken.
