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Understanding the Board of Managers Roles

Writer's picture: Janice ThomasJanice Thomas

Updated: Oct 20, 2024


Texas General Counsel Building

When the Texas Education Agency (TEA) takes over a school district due to issues like financial mismanagement, academic underperformance, or governance failures, an appointed Board of Managers (BOM) and Superintendent are put in place to address these problems and guide the district back to stability and compliance. The purpose of these appointed leaders includes several critical functions:


Restoring Financial Accountability


• One of the primary reasons for a TEA takeover is often mismanagement of funds. The appointed BOM and Superintendent are tasked with bringing the district’s financial operations into compliance with state and federal regulations. Their role includes:


• Implementing financial controls to ensure that funds are used appropriately.


• Conducting audits and reviews to identify past problems and prevent future financial mismanagement.


• Developing a transparent budget that addresses the district’s immediate and long-term needs while building trust with the community.


Improving Academic Performance


• If the district is underperforming academically, the BOM and Superintendent are responsible for developing and implementing strategies to improve student outcomes. This includes:


• Evaluating instructional practices, teacher performance, and student support programs.


• Setting measurable goals for academic improvement in line with state standards, such as improving STAAR test scores or graduation rates.


• Implementing evidence-based programs to close achievement gaps and ensure equitable education for all students.


Ensuring Compliance with State Regulations


• The district must comply with TEA directives, state laws, and educational standards. The appointed BOM and Superintendent are responsible for:


• Ensuring that the district meets all regulatory requirements, including financial reporting, academic performance benchmarks, and governance standards.


• Implementing policies and procedures that align with TEA guidelines to avoid future violations or issues that could lead to another takeover.


Restoring Public Confidence and Trust


• One of the major challenges facing any district under TEA oversight is a loss of trust from the community. The BOM and Superintendent work to rebuild this trust by:


• Engaging with the community through transparent communication, regular updates, and active listening to concerns.


• Demonstrating accountability and progress in addressing the issues that led to the takeover, whether financial, academic, or governance-related.


• Involving stakeholders, such as parents, teachers, and local leaders, in decision-making processes to ensure community input is considered in the district’s recovery.


Correcting Governance Failures


• The Board of Managers takes over the duties of the elected school board, which may have been ineffective or dysfunctional. The BOM is tasked with:


• Establishing strong governance practices, including transparent decision-making, accountability, and ethical leadership.


• Developing a vision for the district’s future and setting clear policies that focus on long-term improvement and sustainability.


• Creating a collaborative leadership environment with the Superintendent, district staff, and community members to work toward shared goals.


Preparing the District for Long-Term Independence


• The ultimate goal of the TEA-appointed BOM and Superintendent is to stabilize the district and ensure it is on the right path so it can eventually return to local control. This involves:


• Building sustainable systems for financial management, academic performance, and governance that will endure once the TEA steps back.


• Training and preparing local leaders, including the elected school board (once reinstated), to take over responsibly.


• Setting the district up for success by addressing the root causes of the issues that led to the takeover and ensuring there is a plan for continued improvement.


In essence, the appointed Board of Managers and Superintendent are brought in to fix systemic problems that led to the district’s failure, ensure compliance with state standards, and build a foundation for the district to function effectively and independently in the long term. Their role is to guide the district through a recovery process, address financial and academic challenges, and rebuild community trust so that the district can eventually return to local control with a more stable and effective governance structure.

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