NWESD Policy Manual & Administrative Procedures

1620-P – Superintendent/Board/Staff Relationships and Expectations Procedures

Superintendent/Board

The Board shall:

• Select the Superintendent and delegate to him/her all administrative powers.
• Adopt policies for the operation of the NWESD 189 and review administrative procedures.
• Adopt NWESD 189 goals to provide direction for programs and operation.
• Support staff decisions, providing they are consistent with the Board’s mission and policies.
• Support the Superintendent in his/her efforts to provide the required “core services.”
• Review and approve cooperative agreements which benefit member district students.
• Approve the annual budget.
• Employ staff upon the recommendation of the Superintendent and authorize the allocation of certificated and classified staff time.
• Hold teachers’ institutes and school directors’ meetings, as it deems appropriate and necessary.
• Approve payment of vouchers and payroll and review monthly fiscal reports.
• Authorize employee bonds.
• Appoint and support the Regional Committee on School District Boundaries, as needed.
• Continue to learn and develop skills as a Board member through participation in AESD and other local, state, or national organizations.

The Superintendent shall:

• Serve as chief executive officer of the NWESD 189.
• Recommend policies or policy changes to the Board and develop procedures which implement Board policy.
• Provide leadership in the development, operation, supervision, and evaluation of programs and operation.
• Establish and nurture participatory decision making within the NWESD 189.
• Facilitate development of various NWESD 189 publications.
• Prepare and submit the annual budget.
• Recommend candidates for election.
• Make recommendations to meet staff needs to provide quality services to member districts and their students.
• Recommend payment of vouchers and payroll.
• Prepare monthly fiscal reports.
• Recommend criteria for evaluating staff.
• Continue to learn and develop skills as a Superintendent through participation in WASA and other local, state, or national organizations.

Board/Administration/Staff Core Values

The most effective way to operate and supervise the dynamic, growing Northwest Educational Service District 189 (NWESD 189) is through close cooperation between the Board of Directors, the Superintendent, and the staff.  Each group plays a different role, and each role is essential to the success of the NWESD 189 team and the services provided member districts.

Cooperation and respect come about among team members when a climate of trust has been established.  It is maintained through understanding and a shared commitment to an agreed upon set of professional characteristics, which have been included in the Core Values described in this document.  In addition, the personal characteristics of humor, understanding, honesty, acceptance, flexibility, and responsible and ethical behavior are critical to the success of the NWESD 189 and the achievement of our Mission, vision, values and goals.

Our Philosophy

We at the NWESD aspire to be a racially and culturally inclusive organization that strives to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage each employee to embrace compassion, appreciation, resilience, and empowerment in all their interactions by speaking their truth, staying engaged, being an active listener, pursuing curiosity, and accepting discomfort with an open mind; as we recognize that vulnerability is necessary for continual growth and learning to occur.

Alongside our NWESD Board of Directors, the values of the NWESD describe how we are at our best, how we are stronger together, and how we can continue to create pathways for success in education for the school communities we serve.

The NWESD Values

By embodying our values, we demonstrate responsive customer service to the school districts, tribal compact schools, public charter schools, private schools, and early learning partners we serve, increasing equitable outcomes for all scholars within the NWESD region.

Open communication

• • We create a culture of inclusion, openness, and belonging; we celebrate our differences.
  • We are a community that is built upon empathy, respect, and acceptance.
  • We invite respectful, positive, timely, and honest communication; we trust our employees to use professional judgment in their interactions with others. We support courageous conversations to better understand the needs of others.
  • We welcome and recognize that all staff teams have an articulated process for surfacing and addressing questions/concerns.
  • We nurture a safe environment where our employees feel supported, valued for their backgrounds, encouraged to speak openly, and validated for their participation.
  • We are empowered to speak on behalf of ourselves, or our colleagues, if we feel that the organizational values are not being respected or adhered to.

Regional collaboration

• • We acknowledge the power of the collective expertise of our regional partners.
  • We think highly of the unique perspectives and varied demographics of the students in the school districts, tribal compact schools, public charter schools, private schools, and early learning partners we serve.
  • We welcome collaboration and mutually respect the expertise of our valued partners; we invite voices from all cultures and backgrounds to join in our shared learning.
  • We strive for excellence and seek to provide innovative support to our regional partners.

Flexible teamwork

• • We hold each other accountable for providing efficient, effective programs and services that empower all individuals and develop equitable opportunities for decision making.
  • We recognize that every person’s experience is unique and requires an individualized approach.
  • We know that each team member brings a unique perspective, and we recognize the strength of our individual diversity and collective resilience.

Adaptable professional learning

• • We approach our work with a growth mindset, seek continuous improvement, and embrace change.
  • We commit to sharing our learned experiences and skills to provide peer support across departments and sites.
  • We foster educator effectiveness by ensuring that professional learning is culturally and historically responsive, demonstrating a commitment to equity through our professional dialogue.
  • We create opportunities and systems that seek to empower each voice and foster individual choice.

Positive relationships

• • We recognize the importance of all roles within the organization.
  • We believe healthy conversations include caring personally, listening deeply, and inquiring directly, which foster a sense of belonging.
  • We prioritize physical, emotional, and psychological safety.
  • We encourage and allow time for social interactions.
  • We embrace professional relationships that build a foundation of trust and create a working environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, accepted, and empowered.

Presented to Board: 12/18/00
Reviewed: 03/28/01
Revised: 11/26/01
Reviewed: 08/27/08
Revised: 10/28/09
Revised: 11/27/23

Date Revised: 11/27/23