Urban Chiefs, Boards Agree on State of Relations

By Daniel Gursky

WASHINGTON--Urban superintendents and school-board members may not always agree, but a new survey by the National School Boards Association shows that both groups identify similar factors as undermining their relations.

Both superintendents and board members ranked the lack of understanding of role differences, poor communications, and the personal agendas of some board members as the leading causes of unstable relationships, according to the survey, released here last week.

"It is clear that school-board members and superintendents need to better define their respective roles,'' said Arlene R. Penfield, the president of the N.S.B.A. "Personal agendas must be left at the boardroom door, and school boards must act...