NJSBA representative reviews superintendent-evaluation process for board; annual July 1 deadline emphasized

Patricia Reese of the New Jersey School Boards Association presented the district’s board with a step-by-step review of the superintendent-evaluation process during the April 29 meeting, telling trustees the evaluation is both a key governance tool and a legal necessity.

Reese told the board the process is required by statute and that the evaluation must be completed in writing by July 1 each year and discussed in a summary conference between a majority of non-conflicted board members and the superintendent. “The tool that you use, that we provide for you is done as a service. It’s certainly not the only tool that you can use, but we feel that it streamlines the process,” Reese said during the presentation.

Her remarks included guidance on these points: - Annual timeline: set goals with the superintendent, monitor progress throughout the year, collect evidence and complete the written evaluation by July 1 to satisfy monitoring requirements and avoid governance scoring penalties in the county review process. - Majority-written rule: Reese explained the written summative evaluation reflects the majority of nonconflicted board members’ written compilation; minority opinions may be expressed at the summary conference and are preserved in the executive-session discussion but not in the majority-written final document. - Leadership standards and rubrics: the NJSBA tool contains district-goal assessments and leadership-standard rubrics (exemplary, proficient, area for growth, unsatisfactory, not observed) and encourages commentary to support numeric ratings. Reese noted boards can mark “not observed” for newer members who lack enough observation time on leadership standards. - Platform mechanics: Reese explained the online workflow: superintendent self-evaluation and evidence uploads, a 48-hour window for superintendent edits, then board member access to the compilation and rating tools.

Board members asked about special circumstances such as evaluating a superintendent who served part of the year as an interim; Reese advised the board may evaluate the period the superintendent occupied the position but cautioned that newer board members should avoid rating leadership standards if they lack sufficient observation time. She also emphasized that the superintendent evaluation is reviewed by the county executive superintendent and that failing to complete the evaluation by July 1 could reduce governance points during the county review.

Reese also briefly described the board self-evaluation tool, noting it is voluntary and intended as a best practice for governance improvement and that the revised board self-evaluation mirrors the superintendent tool with six standards for assessing the board team.

The presentation concluded with a reminder that the NJSBA retains compilation reports only temporarily and recommends superintendents and board presidents keep personal copies of final evaluation reports.