Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 71, § 59 (2026)

Superintendent of schools; appointment; compensation; powers and duties

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 59. The school committee of a town not in a superintendency union or district shall employ a superintendent of schools and fix his compensation. A superintendent employed under this section or section sixty or sixty-three shall manage the system in a fashion consistent with state law and the policy determinations of that school committee. Upon the recommendation of the superintendent, the school committee may also establish and appoint positions of assistant or associate superintendents, who shall report to the superintendent, and the school committee shall fix the compensation paid to such assistant or associate superintendents. The school committee shall approve or disapprove the hiring of said positions. Such approval by the school committee of the recommendation shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that upon the request of the superintendent the school committee shall provide an explanation of disapproval.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 12 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1925–2026 · leading case: John Doe v. Cambridge Pub. Schs.., 101 Mass. App. Ct. 482 (Mass. App. Ct. 2022).

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John Doe v. Cambridge Pub. Schs.., 101 Mass. App. Ct. 482 (Mass. App. Ct. 2022). · cites it 5× “See G. L. c. 71, § 59 (superintendent serves as employee of school committee).”

McDuffy v. Sec'y of the Exec. Off. of Educ., 615 N.E.2d 516 (Mass. 1993). · cites it 2× “These include the appointment of a superintendent of schools (G.L.c. 71, §§ 59, 59A), principals for each of the schools in the district (G.”

Thomas v. Town of Chelmsford, 267 F. Supp. 3d 279 (D. Mass. 2017). “94-5069, 1998 WL 224929 , at *13 (Mass. Super. Ct. Apr. 3, 1998) (Gants, J.”

Decatur v. Auditor of Peabody, 146 N.E. 360 (Mass. 1925). “It is plain from the provisions of G. L. c. 71, § 59, that the power of the school committee over the salary of the superintendent of schools is the same as over salaries of teachers.”

Ring v. City of Woburn, 43 N.E.2d 8 (Mass. 1942). ““It is plain from the provisions of G. L. c. 71, § 59, that the power of the school committee over the salary of the superintendent of schools is the same as over salaries of teachers.”

Connelly v. Sch. Comm., 409 Mass. 232 (Mass. 1991). “” The relevant portion of G. L. c. 71, § 59 (1988 ed.), provides that the superintendent “shall recommend to the [school] committee teachers, textbooks, and courses of study.”

Barrett v. City of Medford, 150 N.E. 159 (Mass. 1926). “The school committee, under G. L. c. 71, § 59, elects, and fixes the compensation, of a superintendent of schools, who “shall be the executive officer of the committee, and under its general direction.”

Wakefield Teachers Ass'n v. Sch. Comm., 716 N.E.2d 121 (Mass. App. Ct. 1999). · cites it 2× “” See G. L. c. 71, § 59. The superintendent may dismiss any school employee, G.”

Doe v. Thorell (Mass. App. Ct. 2026). “71, § 37 (powers of school committee); G. L. c. 71, § 59 (powers of superintendent).”

Mueller ex rel. Mueller v. Keefe Reg'l Vocational Technical High Sch., 1 Mass. L. Rptr. 171 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1993). “G.L.c. 71 §59. A reading of c. 258 together with c.”

McLaughlin v. City of Lowell, 8 Mass. L. Rptr. 343 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1998). “” G.L.c. 71, §59. School principals “shall be the educational administrators and managers of their schools and shall supervise the operation and management of their schools .”

North Suburban Transp., Inc. v. City of Woburn Sch. Comm., 8 Mass. L. Rptr. 563 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1998). “According to M.G.L.c. 71, §59, the superintendent of schools is considered the “manager” of the school system.”

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