Superintendent of Schools Office
The first County Superintendent assumed duties in 1876, 13 years before North Dakota became a state. By 1889, the year North Dakota entered the union, 38 Superintendents were on the job. Well educated and in a position of high profile, Superintendents often became community leaders and several held leadership positions with the state. The office maintains valuable student records spanning over 100 years and handles a wealth of records useful in historical research.
The Superintendent's assist teachers and administrators and provide information on school law and legislative matters. The county superintendent assumes responsibility in restructuring school district boundaries. The future sees an increasing need for this process which includes: education and guidance for patrons; extensive knowledge and implementation of legal procedures; detailed descriptions of land areas; and documentation of public testimony. With more school districts consolidating and more state control of local programs, county superintendents have taken on greater roles as record keepers, coordinators and technical advisors.
County superintendents evaluate the needs of schools under their jurisdiction and develop a full service plan accordingly. For smaller schools that do not have a superintendent, the county superintendent serves in that capacity.
The position of Superintendent of Schools in Wells County is an appointed position. The main responsibility of this position is to provide administrative support to the educational system in Wells County in a timely and professional manner. The functions and duties of this position are varied depending on the time of the year. The duties required by the ND Century Code are found in Chapter 15.1-11-04.