168.211. 1. In metropolitan districts the superintendent of schoolsshall be appointed by the board of education for a term of one to fiveyears, during which term his compensation shall not be reduced. Thesuperintendent of schools may appoint, with the approval of the board, atreasurer, a commissioner of school buildings and he shall serve at thepleasure of the superintendent of schools and as many associate andassistant superintendents as he deems necessary, whose compensation shallbe fixed by the board. The superintendent of schools shall give bond inthe sum that the board requires but not less than fifty thousand dollars.No employee or agent of the board shall be a member of the board.
2. The superintendent of schools shall have general supervision,subject to policies established by the board, of the school system,including its various departments and physical properties, courses ofinstruction, discipline and conduct of the schools, textbooks and studies.All appointments, promotions and transfers of teachers and all otheremployees, and introduction and changes of textbooks and apparatus, shallbe made by the superintendent with the approval of the board. Allappointments and promotions of teachers and all other employees shall bemade upon the basis of merit, to be ascertained, as far as practicable, incases of appointment, by examination, and in cases of promotion, by lengthand character of service. Examinations for appointment shall be conductedby the superintendent under regulations to be made by the board. He shallmake such reports to the board that it directs or the rules provide.
3. The superintendent of schools shall have general supervision,subject to policies established by the board, of all school buildings,apparatus, equipment and school grounds and of their construction,installation, operation, repair, care and maintenance; the purchasing ofall supplies and equipment; the operation of the school lunchrooms; theadministration of examinations for the appointment and promotion of allemployees of the school system; and the preparation and administration ofthe annual budget for the school system. Subject to the approval of theboard of education as to number and salaries, the superintendent mayappoint as many employees as are necessary for the proper performance ofhis duties.
4. The board may grant a leave of absence to the superintendent ofschools, and may remove him from office by vote of a majority of itsmembers.
5. Should the superintendent hire a commissioner of school buildings,said person shall be a person qualified by reason of education, experienceand general familiarity with buildings and personnel to assume thefollowing responsibilities and duties. Subject to the control of thesuperintendent of schools, he shall exercise supervision over all schoolbuildings, machinery, heating systems, equipment, school grounds and otherbuildings and premises of the board of education and the construction,installation, operation, repair, care and maintenance related thereto andthe personnel connected therewith; the purchasing of building supplies andequipment and such other duties as may be assigned to him by board rules orregulations.
(L. 1963 p. 200 § 9-21, A.L. 1967 p. 238, A.L. 1995 S.B. 413, A.L. 2004 S.B. 968 and S.B. 969, A.L. 2005 H.B. 297 merged with S.B. 298)(Source: RSMo 1959 § 165.587)