The superintendent co-managed responsibility for the administration of the district alongside the elected members of the board.
When legislation was passed in 1873 to allow the board to appoint a secretary and treasurer, the legislation permitted for superintendents to also serve simultaneously as board secretary so long as they did not receive additional compensation for doing so.
By 1900, the superintendent position had acquired substantial authority in the operations of schools, but the mayor of Detroit and Detroit City Council also effectively held significant control over how the school district was run.
The school board was again reorganized in 1916 by legislation which also increased the power of the office of superintendent.
[1] From 1999 through 2005, the school district operated under state control, with the superintendent position becoming a state-appointed CEO role.