New York Laws
Article 45 - Supervisory Districts
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.