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This section presents some sample exam questions for you to review as part of your preparation for the exam. To demonstrate how each competency may be assessed, sample questions are accompanied by the competency that they measure. While studying, you may wish to read the competency before and after you consider each sample question. Please note that the competency statements do not appear on the actual exam.
For each sample exam question, there is a correct answer and a rationale for each answer option. The sample questions are included to illustrate the formats and types of questions you will see on the exam; however, your performance on the sample questions should not be viewed as a predictor of your performance on the actual exam.
Domain I—Leadership of the Educational Community
Competency 001—The superintendent knows how to act with integrity, fairness and in an ethical manner in order to promote the success of all students.
1. Ms. Conyer is the superintendent of a school district that has recently experienced rapid growth in the number of minority families moving to the community. Some teachers are having difficulty assimilating the minority families into their existing view of the school community. Which of the following is the superintendent’s best initial action for building a culture that celebrates diversity?
- Familiarizing herself with the values and traditions of the minority cultures within the community
- Reviewing district curriculums to determine areas where multiculturalism and cultural awareness can be best integrated
- Having conversations with teachers to acknowledge cultural differences and the influence they can have on educational outcomes
- Directing campus principals to maintain expectations that teachers demonstrate bias-free instructional practices
2. The superintendent of a rapidly growing school district plans to initiate a bond election to fund school construction and renovation. Two previous bond elections were not successful because of disagreement among the community about the value, purpose, and feasibility of the bond. Which of the following actions by the superintendent is most effective for building support for the new bond proposal?
- Surveying superintendents in other districts who have been successful in getting bond elections passed
- Increasing the superintendent’s visibility by joining community organizations and attending community events
- Seeking input from community stakeholders when publicizing the need for the bond and when drafting the proposal
- Providing the public with a detailed breakdown of how bonds are formulated and the process of putting one up for election
Competency 002—The superintendent knows how to shape district culture by facilitating the development, articulation, implementation and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by the educational community.
3. A new superintendent finds the district’s existing mission statement too general to be useful in its execution and plans its revision. Which of the following elements must the revised statement include to ensure that it is of most use for accomplishing the school district’s mission?
- History of the district’s objectives and accomplishments
- Direction and guidelines for achieving the district’s vision
- A description of the constituents that the district serves
- Ground rules for the district’s relationship with its community
4. Which of the following practices by a superintendent best facilitates the development and implementation of a shared vision that focuses on teaching and learning?
- Keeping priorities flexible and negotiable to respond to changing situations
- Implementing the change process for district and campus staff members
- Ensuring that staff involvement in improvement efforts aligns with district goals
- Requiring that teachers monitor student progress frequently
5. A superintendent plans to hold several planning forums during the summer to allow parents and community members to participate in the planning process of district activities. The goal is to build support among stakeholders for the district’s mission and goals. Which TWO of the following methods will most effectively and efficiently reach the greatest number of stakeholders with information about the forums?
- Providing a notice of the meetings through the local media
- Sending announcements about the forums home with students
- Announcing the forums at open school-board meetings
- Using automated phone messages and information hotlines from the district office
- Posting the dates of forums on the parent portal of the student information system
Competency 003—The superintendent knows how to communicate and collaborate with families and community members, respond to diverse community interests and needs and mobilize community resources to ensure educational success for all students.
6. Which of the following practices by a superintendent is most useful for assessing the district’s culture and climate?
- Analyzing results from periodic inventories distributed to stakeholders
- Selecting topics for professional development based upon teacher evaluations
- Visiting the schools frequently to observe student conduct in classes and noninstructional spaces
- Strategizing with principals regarding personnel decisions at the end of the year
7. Which TWO of the following are the most effective district-wide actions a superintendent can take to reduce student dropout rates?
- Scheduling home visits with the families of all students who are at risk of dropping out
- Ensuring that parents and students are aware of laws regarding compulsory attendance
- Assisting students in exploring alternative placements that are designed for at-risk students
- Partnering with community organizations to provide at-risk students with mentoring and tutoring
- Providing students with access to innovative programs that strengthen academic opportunities
Competency 004—The superintendent knows how to respond to and influence the larger political, social, economic, legal and cultural context, including working with the board of trustees, to achieve the district’s educational vision.
8. While attending a high school basketball game, a superintendent observes a school board member shouting insults at the referees whenever he disagrees with their decisions. Which of the following should be the superintendent’s most appropriate first response?
- Sending the board member a formal letter of reprimand pointing out that such behavior violates the school’s tradition of sportsmanship
- Speaking to the board member privately about the importance of serving as a positive role model for students
- Suggesting that the board member complete a course in anger management before his next evaluation by the superintendent
- Taking no action at this time but planning to monitor the board member’s behavior at future sporting events
9. Because of changing demographics in a growing city, community members believe some changes are needed to the district’s career-oriented curriculum. Which of the following is the most appropriate role of the office of the superintendent in developing an effective career-oriented curriculum for a district?
- Conducting research into current principles of best practice and pedagogical approaches for career training
- Disseminating a survey to students and parents to identify specific career goals
- Drafting a provisional list of course offerings for review by principals and teachers
- Acting as a liaison with business coalitions in identifying specific skills applicable to success in the workplace
10. Which of the following describes the primary role of a board of trustees in implementing a new vision and strategic plan for a school district?
- Identifying sources of funding to enable the district to achieve its vision and goals
- Communicating to stakeholders the underlying values and beliefs of the district’s vision and goals
- Identifying operational practices and procedures to help achieve the district’s vision and goals
- Developing policies that provide guidance for accomplishing the district’s vision and goals
11. A school board has gained four new members as a result of a recent election. Which of the following is the most appropriate action for the superintendent to take for promoting team building among board members?
- Scheduling training with the state association of school boards for all members to generate collaborative operating procedures
- Meeting with the new board members individually to discuss their work styles and the work styles of existing members
- Composing a plan with the new members to address the actions they proposed during their campaigns
- Pairing each new member with an existing member to serve as a mentor
12. A superintendent receives a report that a school board member is influencing a search committee to hire a relative of the board member for an open administrative position. Which of the following is the most appropriate first step for the superintendent to take in response to the situation?
- Discussing the situation in executive session
- Informing the board president of the report
- Holding a training session on ethics before the next board meeting
- Asking the search committee chair to speak to the board member
13. Which of the following is a superintendent’s highest priority when preparing and recommending a policy to the school board for approval?
- Ensuring that the policy facilitates student achievement
- Eliminating the shortcomings of previously enacted policies
- Streamlining the process to facilitate implementation of the policy
- Providing evidence that the district staff supports the policy
Domain II—Instructional Leadership
Competency 005—The superintendent knows how to facilitate the planning and implementation of strategic plans that enhance teaching and learning; ensure alignment among curriculum, curriculum resources and assessment; use the current accountability system; and promote the use of varied assessments to measure student performance.
14. A school superintendent meets with elementary principals to review the results of the state assessment for each campus. Which of the following actions best promotes active and focused engagement in the collaborative examination of the assessment data?
- Asking each principal to share a detailed analysis of his or her school’s performance
- Organizing the data into tables or graphs prior to the meeting for easy reference
- Targeting the discussion on what the schools’ assessment data have in common
- Organizing data analysis around essential questions about student performance
Competency 006—The superintendent knows how to advocate, promote and sustain an instructional program and a district culture that are conducive to student learning and staff professional growth.
15. A superintendent reviews the Texas Education Agency report for the spring administration of the state accountability test. The results were favorable in all areas, with the exception of one elementary school that was identified as "Improvement Required." To best promote school improvement, the superintendent should require the elementary principal to first
- reassign the teachers in the grade levels tested to grade levels not tested.
- engage the teachers in professional development on test-taking strategies for students.
- utilize the research-based resources available through the Texas Accountability Intervention System.
- contact a neighboring school district in a similar situation to request assistance in determining areas needing improvement.
16. A superintendent receives several complaints from parents questioning the number of students not being accepted into the district’s gifted and talented program. Which of the following actions is essential for ensuring that the process for identifying students for participation in a gifted program is equitable?
- Applying a broad base of eligibility criteria over a long period of time
- Using predetermined cutoff scores in standardized measures
- Setting quotas for the number of minority students included in the program
- Assigning the greatest weight to self-recommendations and parental recommendations
17. A new superintendent wants to facilitate the effective implementation of health services for students in the school district. Which of the following actions by the superintendent best meets the goal?
- Asking the support services director to provide a report on the current status of student health services
- Distributing information about students’ medical conditions and the health services they receive to the faculty at the beginning of each school year
- Forming a committee of health professionals and other stakeholders to examine student needs and establish and maintain student health services
- Creating a list of health professionals in the community to provide supplementary health services if needed
Competency 007—The superintendent knows how to implement a staff evaluation and development system and select appropriate models for supervision and staff development to improve the performance of all staff members.
18. Elementary school teachers in a district have just finished attending a series of professional development sessions on classroom-based observational assessments. Which of the following actions by district administrators will best ensure that students reap the greatest possible benefits from their teachers’ participation in the sessions?
- Creating a program of follow-up activities and consultation to support all participants’ application of new skills
- Asking teachers who participated to make presentations at their own schools on the basics of observational assessment
- Sending out bimonthly follow-up questionnaires asking participants to report their current use of observational assessment
- Requiring that all participants pass a test on the principles and applications of observational assessment
19. A new superintendent reviewing personnel records from the past five years observes a trend of well-qualified, effective novice teachers leaving the district to pursue other professions due to a lack of collegial support. Which of the following superintendent actions will best address the loss of the novice teachers?
- Advocating with the board for higher salaries for entry-level teachers
- Selecting teacher candidates who explicitly express commitment to the profession
- Holding exit interviews with all teachers who leave the district
- Making a mentoring program the foundation of the teacher induction process
Multiple-Competencies Passages
Practice questions 23–33 refer to the case study located in the Preparation Manual: Superintendent Supplemental Booklet. Practice questions 34–39 refer to the TAPR report, also located in the preparation manual supplement. Note: Some of the documents are meant to reflect types of materials produced by the state and do not necessarily reflect current reporting formats. It is important that you use only the materials in this chapter to answer the questions.
Questions 23–33 refer to the case study material in the Preparation Manual: Superintendent Supplemental Booklet.
Dr. Bugle is the superintendent of Sweetville Independent School District (SISD), a small suburban district with eight schools. One of the middle schools, Sweetville Middle School, a Title I school, has received notification from Texas Education Agency (TEA) that the campus is rated as “Improvement Required” due to poor mathematics performance. Dr. Bugle coordinates with the principal, Ms. Akon, to respond to this information and begin developing professional learning communities (PLCs) for all district schools.
Some teachers have voiced concerns regarding the teacher selection process for the new professional learning communities. A teacher at Sweetville Middle School, Susan Martin, has filed a grievance as a result of the teacher selection process for the PLC planning committee. Mr. Bugle plans to review all the pertinent information and respond appropriately.
Examine the following documents and respond to the questions:
- Letter from superintendent to Sweetville Middle School parents
- Superintendent’s memo to principals with article on professional learning communities
- Level I grievance from a campus department chair, Susan Martin
- Level I grievance response from principal
- Level II appeal notice from Susan Martin
- District grievance policy
Competency 010—The superintendent knows how to apply organizational, decisionmaking and problem-solving skills to comply with federal and state requirements and facilitate positive change in varied contexts.
23. Dr. Bugle wants to ensure that all employees understand the state accountability system in order for students to be successful on state assessments. Which of the following statements by Dr. Bugle best addresses this goal?
- When considering state accountability, schools can change their rating from one year to the next by closing the achievement gap between sub-populations.
- When a school misses the target in two or more areas of the state assessment, TEA determines the rating for that school to be “Improvement Required.”
- TEA looks at student achievement, student progress, closing performance gaps and postsecondary readiness when determining a school’s rating.
- School districts should address the issues in the lowest-performing schools, as a way to increase student performance on the state accountability system.
Competency 005—The superintendent knows how to facilitate the planning and implementation of strategic plans that enhance teaching and learning; ensure alignment among curriculum, curriculum resources and assessment; use the current accountability system; and promote the use of varied assessments to measure student performance.
24. As the district plans to implement PLCs, Dr. Bugle wants to ensure that all principals understand how to use student performance data to improve instruction at their campuses. Which of the following provides Dr. Bugle with an opportunity to share compiled district data trends with principals while demonstrating the use of PLCs?
- Forwarding the data directly to principals and directing them to improve scores in the next year
- Providing a memo to leadership teams that expresses the opinions of campus principals on the data and their implications
- Distributing the data at a general meeting of principals and providing time for them to collaborate on solutions for problem areas
- Working in vertical teams to review all the data with the representative campus teachers and campus leaders
Competency 006—The superintendent knows how to advocate, promote and sustain an instructional program and a district culture that are conducive to student learning and staff professional growth.
25. According to the article provided by Dr. Bugle to principals and their staff, which of the following adjustments to their practice is most appropriate?
- Grouping students by achievement levels
- Modifying the courses or grade levels taught
- Adjusting instruction to meet student needs
- Scoring assessments according to a bell curve
Competency 001—The superintendent knows how to act with integrity, fairness and in an ethical manner in order to promote the success of all students.
26. Which of the following strategies should Dr. Bugle implement to best address Susan Martin’s concerns?
- Paying all teachers the same amount for participation in the selection process
- Hiring only nontenured teachers to participate in the selection process
- Including teacher representation in determining the selection process
- Identifying participants by principal recommendation to be part of the selection process
Competency 001—The superintendent knows how to act with integrity, fairness and in an ethical manner in order to promote the success of all students.
27. In accordance with board policy, which of the following responses by Dr. Bugle to Susan Martin’s Level II grievance is most appropriate?
- Instructing her principal to meet with her to address her concerns
- Meeting with her himself to address her concerns and providing a follow-up memo summarizing the conference
- Instructing the assistant superintendent to meet with her and include a follow-up memo summarizing the conference
- Waiting to reply to the teacher until a district decision has been made regarding the implementation of the new initiative
Competency 001—The superintendent knows how to act with integrity, fairness and in an ethical manner in order to promote the success of all students.
28. If Susan Martin appeals the Level II decision, what is the most appropriate next step for Dr. Bugle to take?
- Denying the appeal so that the complaint goes to the board
- Reviewing the appeal himself and providing a written response
- Forwarding the appeal to the district legal team to consider
- Sending the appeal back to the principal for a resolution
Competency 008—The superintendent knows how to apply principles of effective leadership and management in relation to district budgeting, personnel, resource utilization, financial management and technology applications.
29. A group of teachers from Sweetville Middle School sends a letter to Dr. Bugle outlining their intention to join Susan Martin in her pending grievance. If their grievance is officially filed, which portion of SISD’s board policy addresses how Dr. Bugle should respond?
- Guiding principles
- Notice to employees
- Jurisdictional referral
- Consolidating complaints
Competency 003—The superintendent knows how to communicate and collaborate with families and community members, respond to diverse community interests and needs and mobilize community resources to ensure educational success for all students.
30. A group of teachers tells a local television station that they are being discriminated against based on their age. A news story is broadcast during which the group recounts a rumor that Dr. Bugle is allowing principals to hire younger teachers to serve on the PLCs planning committee in order to keep personnel costs down. The group calls the actions ageism, and the teachers threaten to file a federal discrimination lawsuit. Which of the following is the most appropriate response from Dr. Bugle?
- Ignoring the news story and moving forward with the planned selection process for the planning committee, and then later calling the newspaper with the correct information
- Informing the school board president of the news story, explaining the planned selection process to all employees and board members, and providing the media with the details of the process
- Providing the media with the details of the selection process, calling school board members to inform them of the situation, and meeting with the teachers for a question-and-answer session
- Asking the school board president to act as the district’s official spokesperson to the media for the selection process and then report back to the superintendent
Competency 007—The superintendent knows how to implement a staff evaluation and development system and select appropriate models for supervision and staff development to improve the performance of all staff members.
31. According to the principles discussed in the article provided by Dr. Bugle, which of the following sets of professional development topics best supports the implementation of PLCs?
- Curriculum, pedagogy and assessments
- Curriculum, alignment, articulation and design
- Mission, vision, values and goals
- Historical perspective, practice and pedagogy
Competency 007—The superintendent knows how to implement a staff evaluation and development system and select appropriate models for supervision and staff development to improve the performance of all staff members.
32. Dr. Bugle believes that PLCs will not be sustainable if the change initiative is not embedded in the culture of the schools. To change the district and campus culture, the school leadership team will need to address how to
- assign staff, schedule classes and discipline students.
- articulate shared values, facilitate reflective dialogue and create time to celebrate.
- create district benchmarks, common assessments and time for data desegregation.
- plan professional development activities and timely follow-up strategies.
33. After several months of implementing PLCs, district staff and principals begin to see improvements with the district-created common assessments and increasing excitement from teachers involved. Which of the following strategies is the most appropriate first step for Dr. Bugle to take to communicate these successes and foster continued improvement?
- Providing the local media with a press release stating that the initiative has been successful and reinforcing that the successes occurred despite the selection process controversy
- Sending the data and feedback to campus principals and requesting they share it with the teachers who were involved in the controversy surrounding the planning committee selections
- Requesting the director of curriculum to compile the data and share it with campus principals at the next regular meeting as a checkpoint for the initiative and for distribution to their faculties
- Sharing the data with the school board president and asking that the subject be placed on the agenda for the next regular board meeting as consideration for future budget decisions
Questions 34–39 refer to the Texas Academic Performance Reports in the Preparation Manual: Superintendent Supplemental Booklet.
The superintendent of Davis Independent School District plans to meet with district leaders, teachers, parents and community members to review data and plan to support school improvement. The superintendent plans to analyze the Texas Academic Performance Reports (TAPR) for the district and its campuses. Specifically, the superintendent wants to analyze the performance of Westbury Elementary, a K–6 school, and Rockfort Elementary, a PK–4 school, to see whether effective strategies at one school can be applied to the other in order to narrow the achievement gap between the schools.
NOTE: The sample TAPR data reports provided are intended to be representative only. The sample reports do not necessarily reflect the current reporting formats.
Competency 010—The superintendent knows how to apply organizational, decisionmaking and problem-solving skills to comply with federal and state requirements and facilitate positive change in varied contexts.
34. The TAPR data for the district best support establishing a goal of increasing students’ performance
- in writing to 90 percent mastery for all grade levels.
- on end-of-course assessments to exceed state averages.
- in reading and mathematics to 90 percent mastery for all grades.
- on the advanced standard for mathematics to exceed the state average.
Competency 006—The superintendent knows how to advocate, promote and sustain an instructional program and a district culture that are conducive to student learning and staff professional growth.
35. Which of the following statements regarding the performance of special populations is best supported by the district TAPR?
- Reading and mathematics scores of special education students steadily increase as students progress through each grade level.
- English-language learner scores for all grades are above state average in mathematics but below state average in all other test subjects.
- Reading and mathematics scores of economically disadvantaged students for all grades are consistently lower than scores from special education students.
- Reading, mathematics, and writing scores for bilingual students in all grades are lower than state averages for the same population.
Competency 010—The superintendent knows how to apply organizational, decisionmaking and problem-solving skills to comply with federal and state requirements and facilitate positive change in varied contexts.
36. Which of the following is the most accurate conclusion that can be drawn from analyzing district dropout and graduation rates?
- Graduation rates among all ethnic groups improved from the previous year.
- The dropout and graduation rates of the economically disadvantaged population are improving.
- The percentage of students receiving a General Educational Development certificate decreased from the previous year.
- The four-year longitudinal rate shows that the district performed better than the region and state in all categories.
Competency 005—The superintendent knows how to facilitate the planning and implementation of strategic plans that enhance teaching and learning; ensure alignment among curriculum, curriculum resources and assessment; use the current accountability system; and promote the use of varied assessments to measure student performance.
37. Last year, Rockfort Elementary implemented a small-group mathematics program in third and fourth grades that has been successful at Westbury Elementary. Based on Rockfort’s changes in mathematics scores from last year to the current year, the school should
- discontinue the program at all grade levels and search for new alternatives.
- continue the program in fourth grade only, because this is the only grade showing improvement.
- discontinue the program at third grade because this grade continues to have the lowest scores.
- continue implementing the program at all grade levels, building on the progress in third grade.
Competency 008—The superintendent knows how to apply principles of effective leadership and management in relation to district budgeting, personnel, resource utilization, financial management and technology applications.
38. The superintendent evaluates the staffing patterns at Rockfort and Westbury Elementary Schools with the leadership team. Which of the following conclusions can be drawn based on the data?
- Both campuses have a large percentage of beginning teachers and need more experienced teachers on staff.
- Both campuses need to focus on diversifying the teaching staff to better reflect the student population.
- Both campuses should consider increasing the school leadership staff to meet district and state averages.
- Both campuses should consider increasing the number of educational aides to meet district and state averages
Competency 007—The superintendent knows how to implement a staff evaluation and development system and select appropriate models for supervision and staff development to improve the performance of all staff members.
39. Based on the data, which of the following professional development strategies is most needed?
- Mentoring first-year teachers at both elementary schools
- Implementing a positive-behavior support system at both elementary schools
- Providing small-group academic instruction at Westbury Elementary
- Using culturally relevant instructional strategies to meet the needs of Rockfort Elementary
Questions 40–43 refer to the following information.
Over the summer, Dr. Sarah Yin, the superintendent of Blackburn Independent School District (BISD), receives a letter from the Texas Education Agency that contains the near-final Summary of Finances (SOF) and other related reports for the district. Dr. Yin is working with the director of finance to examine the budget for the current year. At the same time, she is also collaborating with her staff, the district site-based decision-making committee and the school board to develop a budget for the next school year. To balance the budget for the next school year, Dr. Yin is considering an increase in the tax rate for maintenance and operations, which will require voter approval. The increase is needed to cover salaries and offset the decline in transportation revenue and average daily attendance monies.
Competency 002—The superintendent knows how to shape district culture by facilitating the development, articulation, implementation and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by the educational community.
40. Dr. Yin wants members of the district site-based decision-making team to be familiar with the Summary of Finances report from the TEA and understand its value in shaping the budget and associated district goals. Which of the following best explains how superintendents use this document?
- Calculating local funding elements that will supplement state aid
- Estimating state revenue using projected and actual data from the previous year
- Providing an accurate account of money spent in each expenditure area
- Supporting the locally generated budgets with aid from the federal government
Read the following excerpt of the 2014–15 SOF.
199/5812 – Foundation School Fund | 3,795,237 dollars | 3,641,225 dollars |
199/5811 – Available School Fund | $162,546 162,546 dollars | 162,546 dollars |
599/5829 – Existing Debt Allotment | 0 dollars | 0 dollars |
599/5829 – Instructional Facilities Allotment (Bond) | 33,173 dollars | 35,981 dollars |
199/5829 – Instructional Facilities Allotment (Lease Purchase) | 0 dollars | 0 dollars |
4,009,765 dollars | 3,858,400 dollars |
Competency 008—The superintendent knows how to apply principles of effective leadership and management in relation to district budgeting, personnel, resource utilization, financial management and technology applications.
41. In comparing the legislative planning amount estimate with the near-final total state aid amount for Blackburn ISD’s 2014–15 SOF, which of the following should Dr. Yin consider when planning the 2015–16 budget?
- The positive impact the settle-up will have on the 2014–15 budget
- The negative impact the settle-up will have on the 2014–15 budget
- The positive impact the settle-up will have on the 2015–16 budget
- The negative impact the settle-up will have on the 2015–16 budget
Competency 008—The superintendent knows how to apply principles of effective leadership and management in relation to district budgeting, personnel, resource utilization, financial management and technology applications.
42. During the school board budget hearing, a board member asks, “How will raising local taxes generate revenue in Tier I and Tier II?” Which of the following is the most appropriate response from Dr. Yin?
- Maximizing the interest and sinking tax rate will generate revenue in both tiers by increasing additional property tax revenue locally
- Increasing the maintenance and operations tax rate can generate more revenue for both tiers using the basic allotment and the guaranteed yield
- Generating funding for the local budget through increased taxes will confirm how supportive taxpayers are regarding a tax ratification election
- Increasing the total tax rate will automatically generate useable increases in revenue for both tiers
Competency 010—The superintendent knows how to apply organizational, decisionmaking and problem-solving skills to comply with federal and state requirements and facilitate positive change in varied contexts.
43. After the new budget is approved, which of the following is Dr. Yin’s most appropriate next step?
- Submitting the budget to the TEA for approval
- Requesting that the board approve the tax rate supporting the budget
- Filing the budget with the county appraisal district office
- Allocating funds for projects with next year’s budget money
Questions 44–46 refer to the following information.
A school district has grown in size over the last decade, leading to overcrowding at its aging elementary school. To address the problem, the board proposes to replace the existing school and hires an architectural firm to draw up plans and estimate final costs for a new school. Although the state has agreed to pay for part of the cost of building a new school, the rest of the money must be raised through a bond issue that requires the approval of a majority of district voters. The bond issue is strongly opposed by a group of district residents.
Competency 009—The superintendent knows how to apply principles of leadership and management to the district’s physical plant and support systems to ensure a safe and effective learning environment.
44. During the planning stage for the design of the new school building, which of the following trends should be weighed most heavily?
- Changes in the size of the state’s overall budget for construction of new public school facilities
- Projected changes in the cultural and ethnic makeup of district communities
- Possible long-term changes in state mandates regarding facilities devoted to special education
- Projected increases in the population of district communities over the next ten years
Competency 009—The superintendent knows how to apply principles of leadership and management to the district’s physical plant and support systems to ensure a safe and effective learning environment.
45. When school districts are planning for a new school building’s construction, Texas Administrative Code requires the districts to
- use construction materials produced in the United States whenever possible.
- hire an outside design professional or consultant experienced in school planning and design.
- allow for input from teachers, other school campus staff, and district program staff in developing the educational specifications.
- obtain reduced prices for the same products and services utilized in previous construction projects.
Competency 010—The superintendent knows how to apply organizational, decisionmaking and problem-solving skills to comply with federal and state requirements and facilitate positive change in varied contexts.
46. Which of the following is the most important responsibility of the superintendent with regard to the bond election?
- Advocating for students to ensure that their educational needs are met
- Mediating between community members who are on opposite sides of the debate
- Organizing proponents of the bond issue to lobby for its passage
- Acting as an intermediary between the board of trustees and the community
Decision Set Begins Here
PART 1
Dr. Trenessa Louis is the new superintendent of Hutchins Ridge ISD (HRISD). Shortly after beginning work in the district, she holds individual meetings with district principals to discuss, among other topics, the strengths and needs of the district in terms of technology use and availability. Following are some of the key points Dr. Louis notes during these meetings.
- There is no district-wide technology plan.
- Several schools mention the use of technology in their Campus Improvement Plans; however, these uses are very limited.
- Technology resources are limited and are distributed unevenly district-wide.
- District libraries are only partially automated and need updating.
- The district has limited networking capability.
- Relatively few teachers district-wide have received staff development in the use of the latest types of instructional technology.
After gathering the background information, Dr. Louis decides that two of her primary goals during her first year as superintendent of HRISD will be to ensure that a comprehensive district technology plan is developed and that implementation of the plan is begun. She will begin by forming a technology planning committee (TPC).
Competency 003—The superintendent knows how to communicate and collaborate with families and community members, respond to diverse community interests and needs and mobilize community resources to ensure educational success for all students.
47. To make sure that the new district technology plan is realistic and has the greatest chance for success, Dr. Louis should ensure which of the following related to the technology planning committee?
- It is directed by an objective outside consultant who has expertise in the area of instructional technology
- It comprises members of all constituent groups, including people with varying backgrounds in and attitudes toward technology
- It is encouraged to develop a technology plan that requires a minimum of financial support from the district
- It bases its plan closely on the technology plans developed by other Texas school districts
PART 2
Once the new technology vision for the district has been established by the TPC and approved by the board of trustees, Dr. Louis encourages the TPC to develop specific student goals and an implementation plan.
Competency 002—The superintendent knows how to shape district culture by facilitating the development, articulation, implementation and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by the educational community.
48. The opening line of the mission statement in the new district technology plan states: “HRISD is committed to preparing all students to be successful workers and ongoing learners in the information age.” The district could best fulfill its stated mission by establishing which of the following goals for all students to achieve by the time they graduate?
- Being active users of a variety of technologies that support communication and problem solving
- Being fluent in one or more programming languages commonly used in the modern workplace
- Being able to store, retrieve and manipulate numerical data through the use of technology
- Being proficient in the use of databases and CD-ROM resources to support research
Competency 005—The superintendent knows how to facilitate the planning and implementation of strategic plans that enhance teaching and learning; ensure alignment among curriculum, curriculum resources and assessment; use the current accountability system; and promote the use of varied assessments to measure student performance.
49. Which of the following guidelines should be included in a successful professional development plan in the area of instructional technology?
- Teacher trainers should be selected from among the most highly skilled math, science and business education teachers in the district
- Training opportunities should be varied to take into account different learning styles and needs
- Training should be supported through grant dollars from national education foundations
- Teachers should be supported in visiting schools and workplaces in which current technologies are utilized
Decision Set Ends Here
Competency 009—The superintendent knows how to apply principles of leadership and management to the district’s physical plant and support systems to ensure a safe and effective learning environment.
50. A school board reviews bids from several vendors to provide food services to district schools. One vendor’s bid is substantially lower than the rest, but a board member expresses reservations based on some negative comments she has heard about the vendor’s work. In this situation, the best action for the superintendent to take next is to
- contact other consumers who have used the low-bidding vendor to inquire about the quality of the vendor’s services.
- recommend that the board accept the low bid in conformity with state law requiring acceptance of the lowest bid to provide goods and services.
- reopen the bidding process after informing all participating vendors of the amount of the lowest bid.
- recommend that the board reject the lowest bid and award the contract to a higher-bidding but more reputable vendor.