N.Y. Education Law § 2215: General powers and duties of district superintendent

§ 2215. General powers and duties of district superintendent. A

district superintendent of schools shall have power and it shall be his

duty: 1. To inquire from time to time into and ascertain whether the

boundaries of the school districts within his supervisory district are

definitely and plainly described in the records of the office of the

proper town clerk; to cause to be made and filed in the education

department a record of such boundaries; and in case the record of the

boundaries of any school district shall be found indefinite or

defective, or if the same shall be in dispute, then to cause the same to

be amended or an amended record of the boundaries to be made and filed

in the office of the proper town clerk and in the education department.

All necessary expenses incurred in making and filing such records and in

establishing such amended records shall be a charge on the district or

districts affected, to be audited and allowed by the trustees thereof,

on the certificate of the district superintendent.

2. To assemble all the teachers of his district by towns or otherwise,

for the purpose of conference on the course of study, for reports of and

advice and counsel in relation to discipline, school management and

other school work, and for promoting the general good of all the schools

of the district. Teachers shall be entitled to compensation for days

actually in attendance upon such conference.

3. To hold meetings of trustees and other school officers and to

advise with and counsel them in relation to their powers and duties and

particularly in relation to the repair, construction, heating,

ventilating and lighting of schoolhouses and improving and adorning the

school grounds. To especially advise trustees relative to the employment

of teachers, the adoption of textbooks and the purchase of library

books, school apparatus, furniture and supplies.

6. At the direction of the commissioner, to direct the trustees of any

district to abate any nuisance in or on the school grounds.

7. To approve the amount of or the corporate sureties on official

undertakings of treasurers and collectors of school districts, where

such approval is required pursuant to law.

8. At the direction of the commissioner, to condemn a schoolhouse as

provided in section four hundred twelve of this chapter.

9. To examine and license teachers pursuant to the provisions of this

chapter. He shall also conduct such other examinations as the

commissioner of education shall direct.

10. To examine any charge affecting the moral character of any teacher

residing or employed within his district, and to revoke such teachers'

certificate as provided by section three thousand eighteen of this

chapter.

11. To take affidavits and administer oaths in all matters pertaining

to the public school system, but without charge or fee.

12. To take and report to the commissioner of education under the

direction of such commissioner testimony in a case on appeal. In such a

case or in any matter or proceeding to be heard or determined by the

district superintendent, he may issue a subpoena to compel the

attendance of a witness. A subpoena issued under this section shall be

regulated by the civil practice law and rules.

13. To exercise in his discretion any of the powers and perform any of

the duties of another district superintendent on the written request of

such other superintendent, and he must exercise such powers and perform

such duties when directed to do so by the commissioner of education.

14. To make such investigations and to make such reports to the

commissioner of education upon any matter or act as said commissioner

shall from time to time request. He shall make an annual report on the

first day of August in such form and giving such information as the

commissioner of education shall require.

15. To participate in the permanent computerized statewide school

district address match and income verification system as provided in

section one hundred seventy-one of the tax law, and cooperative

agreement pursuant thereto and as directed by the commissioner.

16. To report to the commissioner under the direction of such

commissioner on cost-effective practices as defined in section two

hundred fifteen-c of this chapter in school districts within his or her

supervisory district.

17. To determine the adequacy and appropriateness of the facilities

space available to house special education programs in the geographic

area served by the board of cooperative educational services, consistent

with the least restrictive environment requirement and to ensure the

stability and continuity of program placements for students with

disabilities, including procedures that ensure that special education

programs and services located in appropriate facilities will not be

relocated without adequate consideration of the needs of participating

students with disabilities.