Ky. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 160
Kentucky Revised Statutes

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 160.370 (2026)

Superintendent as executive agent of board -- Duties -- Duties of local

✓ current as of May 2026
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board of education and superintendent in county with consolidated local government -- Approval of small purchases in county with consolidated local government.

(1) The superintendent shall be the executive agent of the board that appoints him or her and shall meet with the board, except when his or her own tenure, salary, or the administration of his or her office is under consideration. As executive officer of the board, the superintendent shall see that the laws relating to the schools, the bylaws, rules, and regulations of the Kentucky Board of Education, and the regulations and policies of the district board of education are carried into effect. He or she may administer the oath required by the board of education to any teacher or other person. He or she shall be the professional adviser of the board in all matters. He or she shall prepare, under the direction of the board, all rules, regulations, bylaws, and statements of policy for approval and adoption by the board. He or she shall have general supervision, subject to the control of the board of education, of the general conduct of the schools, the course of instruction, the discipline of pupils, and the management of business affairs. He or she shall be responsible for the hiring and dismissal of all personnel in the district.

(2) For a county school district in a county with a consolidated local government adopted under KRS Chapter 67C:

(a) A local board of education shall:

1. Delegate authority to the superintendent over the district's day-to-day operations and implementation of the board-approved strategic plan in a manner that promotes the efficient, timely operation of the district, including but not limited to the authority over contracts related to daily operations of the district, pupil transportation, personnel matters, and the organizational structure of administrative staff;

2. Except as expressly required by statute, including subparagraphs 3. and 5. of this paragraph, not meet more than once every four (4) weeks for the purpose of approving necessary administrative matters;

3. By December 1 each year, approve a rolling three (3) year strategic plan for the district that outlines student achievement goals, faculty and staff improvement goals, facility and infrastructure improvement, and other key objectives that the superintendent and board believe are in the best interest of student outcomes and the community;

4. Approve an annual budget for the district, which shall include any budgetary decisions relevant to the district's ability to obtain necessary revenue, including tax revenue, in accordance with the requirements of state law and regulation;

5. By November 1 each year, oversee:

a. An annual audit of the financial dealings of the district and the reporting of key financial performance data in order to ensure fair and accurate reporting to the board; and

b. An annual review of student performance in the district and the reporting of key student performance data to ensure compliance with state and federal law and accurate reporting to the board;

6. Recruit and hire the superintendent and negotiate the terms of employment and compensation of a prospective superintendent;

7. Complete an annual review of the superintendent's performance with regard to the duties assigned in subsection (1) of this section and paragraph (b) of this subsection; and

8. Be responsible for the dismissal of the superintendent;

(b) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in subsection (1) of this section, the superintendent shall:

1. Provide a quarterly, informational report to the board on the administrative actions taken by the superintendent to carry out the district's daily operations and implementation of the strategic plan as well as a budget to actual financial update;

2. Prepare all rules, regulations, bylaws, and statements of policy for approval and adoption by the board, with approval not to be withheld without a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the board to deny approval or adoption;

3. Supervise the general conduct of the schools, the course of instruction, the discipline of pupils, the employment matters of all employees and contractors, and the management of business affairs of the district;

4. Be responsible for the hiring, employment terms, dismissal, and organizational structure of all personnel in the district in compliance with all laws and in a manner that best serves the students of the district; and

5. Notwithstanding any law that assigns an administrative duty, responsibility, or authority to a board of education, or other law to the contrary, be responsible for any administrative duty not explicitly granted to the board under paragraph (a) of this subsection; and

(c) If the county adopts the provisions of the Kentucky Model Procurement Code, the board shall authorize the superintendent to approve purchases, in accordance with small purchase procedures adopted by the board, for any contract for which a determination is made that the aggregate amount of the contract does not exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000). The board shall authorize the superintendent to approve a line-item transfer within its annual budget as she or he deems necessary, provided that the aggregate amount of any individual transfer does not exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000). The superintendent shall provide a quarterly report to the board on any purchases made under this subsection. Effective: July 14, 2022 History: Amended 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 196, sec. 3, effective July 14, 2022. -- Amended 2019 Ky. Acts ch. 65, sec. 1, effective June 27, 2019. -- Amended 1996 Ky. Acts ch. 362, sec. 6, effective July 15, 1996. -- Amended 1990 Ky. Acts ch. 476, Pt. II, sec. 89, effective July 13, 1990. -- Amended 1966 Ky. Acts ch. 89, sec. 10. -- Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. sec. 4399- 34.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 20 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1943–2025 · leading case: Young v. Hammond, 139 S.W.3d 895 (Ky. 2004).
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Young v. Hammond, 139 S.W.3d 895 (Ky. 2004). · cites it 8× “To summarize, although only the superintendent is authorized to hire a school employee, KRS 160.370; KRS 160.380(2)(a), hiring decisions are shared with the principal and the school council.”
Chapman v. Gorman, 839 S.W.2d 232 (Ky. 1992). · cites it 6× “KRS 160.370, removes direct responsibility for the "hiring and dismissal of all personnel in the [school] district" from the school board, giving such power to the superintendent.”
Medley v. Bd. of Educ., of Shelby Cnty., 168 S.W.3d 398 (Ky. Ct. App. 2004). “…Attorney General, 02-ORD-132, July 17, 2002, at page 7. 28 . Black's Law Dictionary (8th ed.2004). 29 . KRS 160.390; KRS 160.370”
Pike Cnty. Bd. of Educ. v. Mills, 260 S.W.3d 366 (Ky. Ct. App. 2008). “Similar provisions can be found elsewhere in the Kentucky Education Reform Act, including KRS 160.370 and KRS 160.390. In Tolliver v.”
Thorpe ex rel. D.T. v. Breathitt Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 8 F. Supp. 3d 932 (E.D. Ky. 2014). “370 (“He [the superintendent] shall have general supervision, subject to the control of the board of education, of the general conduct of the schools, the course of instruction, the discipline of pupils, and the management of business affairs.”
Gaines v. Bd. of Educ., 554 S.W.2d 394 (Ky. Ct. App. 1977). “370 designates the Superintendent to be the executive agent of the Board of Education and as such he is charged with the duty of seeing that all laws relating to schools, and the rules and regulations of school boards are carried into effect. In the instant case, he fulfilled…”
Daniel Cameron, in His Off. Capacity as Attorney Gen. of the Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Jefferson Cnty. Bd. of Educ. (Ky. Ct. App. 2023). · cites it 15× “KRS 160.370(2) only applies, however, in “a county school district in a county with a consolidated local government[.”
Ramsey v. Bd. of Educ., 789 S.W.2d 784 (Ky. Ct. App. 1990). “See KRS 160.370. In support of her argument, she relies upon several cases which hold principals bound by *787 acts of their agents, where the agent had implied or apparent authority.”
Huff v. Harlan Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 408 S.W.2d 457 (Ky. Ct. App. 1966). “” Under the provisions of KRS 160.370, the superintendent “shall be the executive agent of the board,” and it is his further duty to “prepare under the direction of the board, all rules, regulations, bylaws and statements of policy for approval and adoption by the board.”
Russell Coleman, in His Off. Capacity as Attorney Gen. of the Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Jefferson Cnty. Bd. of Educ. (Ky. 2025). · cites it 8× “” KRS 160.370(1). 3 Until recently, this statutory scheme applied to all Kentucky public school districts.”
Taylor v. Hampton, 271 S.W.2d 887 (Ky. Ct. App. 1954). · cites it 3× “insist that in decisions involving similar facts it has been emphasized that no contract under the act may be entered into between the board and a teacher without the prerequisite recommendation of the superintendent and that the provisions of KRS 160.”
Stand. Acc. Ins. Co. v. Perry Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 72 F. Supp. 142 (E.D. Ky. 1947). “Dilce Combs to ride upon the bus and thus save the Board the expense of his transportation, K.”
Show all 20 citing cases →
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 160.370(1) — 2 cases
J. A., Parent, & on Behalf of Minor, John Doe v. McCracken Cnty. Sch. Dist. & Bd. of Educ. (Ky. Ct. App. 2024).
Russell Coleman, in His Off. Capacity as Attorney Gen. of the Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Jefferson Cnty. Bd. of Educ. (Ky. 2025). “” KRS 160.370(1). 3 Until recently, this statutory scheme applied to all Kentucky public school districts.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 160.370(2) — 2 cases
Daniel Cameron, in His Off. Capacity as Attorney Gen. of the Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Jefferson Cnty. Bd. of Educ. (Ky. Ct. App. 2023). “KRS 160.370(2) only applies, however, in “a county school district in a county with a consolidated local government[.”
Russell Coleman, in His Off. Capacity as Attorney Gen. of the Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Jefferson Cnty. Bd. of Educ. (Ky. 2025). “” KRS 160.370(1). 3 Until recently, this statutory scheme applied to all Kentucky public school districts.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 160.370(2)(a) — 2 cases
Daniel Cameron, in His Off. Capacity as Attorney Gen. of the Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Jefferson Cnty. Bd. of Educ. (Ky. Ct. App. 2023). “KRS 160.370(2) only applies, however, in “a county school district in a county with a consolidated local government[.”
Russell Coleman, in His Off. Capacity as Attorney Gen. of the Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Jefferson Cnty. Bd. of Educ. (Ky. 2025). “” KRS 160.370(1). 3 Until recently, this statutory scheme applied to all Kentucky public school districts.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 160.370(2)(a)(2) — 1 case
Russell Coleman, in His Off. Capacity as Attorney Gen. of the Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Jefferson Cnty. Bd. of Educ. (Ky. 2025). “” KRS 160.370(1). 3 Until recently, this statutory scheme applied to all Kentucky public school districts.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 160.370(2)(b) — 1 case
Daniel Cameron, in His Off. Capacity as Attorney Gen. of the Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Jefferson Cnty. Bd. of Educ. (Ky. Ct. App. 2023). “KRS 160.370(2) only applies, however, in “a county school district in a county with a consolidated local government[.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 160.370(2)(b)(2) — 1 case
Russell Coleman, in His Off. Capacity as Attorney Gen. of the Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Jefferson Cnty. Bd. of Educ. (Ky. 2025). “” KRS 160.370(1). 3 Until recently, this statutory scheme applied to all Kentucky public school districts.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 160.370(2)(b)(3) — 1 case
Russell Coleman, in His Off. Capacity as Attorney Gen. of the Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Jefferson Cnty. Bd. of Educ. (Ky. 2025). “” KRS 160.370(1). 3 Until recently, this statutory scheme applied to all Kentucky public school districts.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 160.370(2)(c) — 1 case
Daniel Cameron, in His Off. Capacity as Attorney Gen. of the Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Jefferson Cnty. Bd. of Educ. (Ky. Ct. App. 2023). “KRS 160.370(2) only applies, however, in “a county school district in a county with a consolidated local government[.”
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