The city board of education shall appoint a city superintendent of schools to hold office at the pleasure of the board. The city superintendent of schools shall receive such compensation as the city board of education shall direct. The city board of education may remove the city superintendent of schools for incompetency, immorality, misconduct in office, willful neglect of duty or when, in the opinion of the board, the best interests of the schools require it.

The city superintendent of schools, subject to the provisions of this title, shall organize institutes for teachers and for citizens. He shall advise teachers as to further study and professional reading and assist parents and teachers in acquiring knowledge of the aims and work of the schools.

The city superintendent of schools shall visit the schools, observe the management and instruction and give suggestions for the improvement of the same. He shall advise with principals and teachers and shall endeavor in every way to promote public interest and improve educational conditions.

The city superintendent of schools, with the approval of the State Superintendent of Education, shall prepare forms and blanks upon which principals, teachers, supervisors, attendance officers, janitors and other regular employees shall make such reports as shall be required and shall submit the same for approval to the city board of education.

The city superintendent of schools shall direct the taking of the quadrennial census provided for in this title. He shall cause the census to be retaken in whole or in part when directed to do so by the State Superintendent of Education. The city superintendent of schools shall require the enumerators to make their report to him not later than August 5, following the date of taking the census; and, on or before August 15 following, the city superintendent of schools shall make his report of such census to the county superintendent of education. Where the census of a city is retaken in whole or in part by direction of the State Superintendent of Education, the enumerators shall make their report to the city superintendent of schools within such time as directed by the State Superintendent of Education, and the city superintendent of schools shall make a report to the county superintendent of education within 24 hours from the time of the report to him by the enumerators. He shall retain a duplicate of the same for the files in his own office.

The city superintendent of schools shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, and submit to the city board of education for adoption, all reports required by the State Board of Education, and he shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, and submit to the city board of education a school report as provided in this title.

The city superintendent of schools, acting under the rules and regulations of the city board of education, shall be responsible for the administration of the office of superintendent of schools, and he shall see that all regular appointees of the city board of education devote their entire time to their duties.

The city superintendent of schools shall nominate in writing for appointment by the city board of education all principals, teachers, supervisors, attendance officers, janitors and all other employees of the board and shall assign to them their positions, transfer them as the needs of the schools require, recommend them for promotion, suspend them for cause and recommend them for dismissal, subject to the provisions of Chapter 24 of this title.

All persons so nominated for teaching or supervising positions shall hold certificates issued by the State Board of Education.

The city superintendent of schools shall, at such times and in such manner as directed by the city board of education, under the rules and regulations promulgated by the State Superintendent of Education, prepare his payroll or payrolls for the payment of teachers, employees, bills and other items authorized by the city board of education. No public funds must be paid out by the city treasurer except on an order signed by the chairman of the city board of education, accompanied by a certificate of the city superintendent of schools that the payroll or order is correct, due and unpaid.

The city superintendent of schools shall recommend the employment of one or more attendance officers, subject to the rules of the city board of education, and shall see to it that the provisions of law for school attendance are enforced.

The city board of education shall, upon the recommendation of the city superintendent of schools, employ such professional, clerical, accounting and statistical assistants as, in the judgment of the board, are necessary.

The superintendent of city schools shall be chosen for his general fitness and character, but shall not be eligible for appointment unless he shall offer proof to the board that he holds a degree from a recognized four-year college or university and is knowledgeable in school administration. Such person need not be a resident or qualified elector of the city or county in which he offers to serve.

Nothing shall be construed as preventing a city board of education from contracting with teachers and other employees for a longer period of time than that actually devoted to teaching or the conduct of the schools while actually in session. But no teacher or employee shall be entitled to receive any payment from public funds unless his time has been employed as required by the contract of employment and unless all current records for which such teacher or employee is responsible shall have been kept with care and accuracy, and no teacher or employee of the board shall be entitled to receive any payment from public funds unless all records and reports required by the State Superintendent of Education or city board of education shall have been properly made and submitted.

(a) The city superintendent of schools shall be the chief executive officer of the city board of education and shall see that the laws relating to the schools and the rules and regulations of the city board of education are carried into effect.

(b) The city superintendent of schools shall explain the true intent and meaning of the school laws, and of the rules and regulations of the city board of education and of the State Board of Education, subject to the provisions of this title.

(c) The superintendent shall decide, without expense to the parties concerned, all controversies and disputes involving the rules and regulations of the city board of education and the proper administration of the public schools.

(d) The superintendent shall have authority to administer oaths and to examine under oath witnesses in any matter pertaining to the public schools of the city and to cause the examinations to be reduced to writing.

(e) The city board of education shall appoint as its executive officer a superintendent of schools, who may also be secretary of the board of education.

(f) The superintendent of schools shall conduct all correspondence of the board, keep and preserve all of its records, receive all reports required by the board and see that such reports are in proper form, complete and accurate. He shall attend all meetings of the board and of its committee and shall have the right to advise on any motion under consideration, but shall have no vote. In case the secretary is absent, the board shall appoint some member of the board or a teacher in the schools under the jurisdiction of said board to act for the time being.

The city superintendent of schools shall recommend for approval and adoption by the city board of education the kind, grade and location of schools to be established and maintained.

The city superintendent of schools, subject to the provisions of this title, shall recommend for approval and adoption by the city board of education policies adapted to promote the educational interests of the city, and rules and regulations for the conduct of the schools.

The city superintendent of schools, subject to the regulations from time to time of the city board of education and in accordance with the provisions of this title, shall outline a building program adequate to meet the needs of the schools in the city and shall submit the same for approval and adoption by the city board of education.

(a) The city superintendent of schools shall recommend to the city board of education for condemnation school buildings which are insanitary and unfit for use. He shall recommend all repairs, purchase of playgrounds, school grounds, school sites and buildings, or the sale of the same, and shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, all plans and specifications for the remodeling of old buildings and the construction of new buildings. He shall recommend, in his discretion, to the board of education an architect or architects to assist in the preparation of plans and specifications for remodeling old buildings, for the construction of new buildings and shall supervise such remodeling and construction.

(b) The city superintendent shall approve in writing all contracts of whatever kind entered into by the city board of education.

The city superintendent of schools, subject to the provisions of this title, shall prepare rules and regulations for grading and standardizing the public schools and shall recommend the same for approval by the city board of education.

The city superintendent of schools, subject to the provisions of this title, shall prepare courses of study for the schools of the city and shall submit the same for approval and adoption by the city board of education. Printed copies of the courses of study shall be supplied every teacher and every interested citizen of the city or town.