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Trainer outlines board duties: vision, policy, and avoiding micromanagement
Summary
The OSBA presentation covered boards’ authority to set vision and policy, the superintendent’s operational role, and why boards should avoid micromanaging staff while exercising accountability through policy and data monitoring.
Vince Adams told the group the board’s authority comes from statute and that the superintendent derives day-to-day authority from the board. He used analogies — including a ship and airplane cockpit — to stress that boards commission a journey and then track progress rather than trying to perform technical operational tasks themselves. "You commission the journey and track the progress," Adams said, stressing the need for clear goals, metrics and consistent communication between board and superintendent.
Adams ran through examples of policy versus administrative rules, explaining that policy sets expectations while administrative rules operationalize them. He urged the board to focus on policy and measurable goals, have staff present data in digestible formats, and view superintendent evaluation and board self-assessment as essential accountability tools.
