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.
Last modified: February 3, 2019