SCHOOL BOARD POLICY
DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM
The Board's policy-making duties are
exercised through a sequence of steps: initiation, assembly of support
material, holding of work sessions, drafting of policy statements,
formal Board action, distribution, implementation, and evaluation. These
steps pertain only to the development of written policy as part of the
Board's legislative role. Policies that have been formulated in
negotiations with employee bargaining units may be found in their
respective labor agreements. The term "policy" includes the initiation
of new policy and the amendment or deletion of existing policy.
- Initiation - Any person residing within, or
employed by, the district may recommend policies in writing to the
Superintendent or designee. The recommendation shall be accompanied
with a statement of the need for the proposed policy. The
Superintendent or designee shall be responsible for initiating policy
development as directed by the Board, State officials, or bylaws; and
shall also be responsible for appointing a policy draft writer.
-
Assembly of support
material - Within a reasonable time, the Superintendent or designee
shall gather the following types of information to prepare for the
Board policy committee:
- the effect the proposed policy would have on
students, staff, the community, and others;
- the fiscal consequences of the proposed policy;
- the specific need for the policy;
- samples of similar policies, if any;
- provisions of applicable laws; and
- suggestions as to how the proposed policy would
be implemented, enforced, and evaluated.
- Meeting of the policy committee - The
Superintendent or designee shall prepare an abstract defining the
issues and recommending an approach. The policy committee (consisting
of three members of the Board appointed by the President, the
Superintendent or designee, and legal counsel) shall meet, discuss,
suggest revisions, or corrections as deemed necessary, and set the
date for presentation to the Board at a work session.
- Drafting a policy statement - The Superintendent or
designee shall, in consultation with legal counsel, draft a policy
statement incorporating the results of the policy committee meetings.
This draft shall be circulated to all Board members, the initiating
individual, impacted staff, and other interested parties prior to the
work session.
- Board discussion - The proposed policy shall be
placed on the Board's work session agenda for discussion. If no
substantive changes are required, the proposed policy shall be
scheduled for action at a subsequent regular Board meeting. If
substantive changes are required, the Board shall return the proposed
policy to the policy committee for review.
- Promulgation - Adopted policies shall be given wide
publicity. The Superintendent or designee shall arrange for brief
press releases concerning policy adoptions, and shall also inform
parents and the public of such policy adoptions in district
publications. Policies shall be posted in each district building
immediately after adoption. Policy manuals shall be kept for public
reference in each school library and staff lounge. Each member of the
administrative staff shall be issued a policy manual, and shall be
sent new policies as they are adopted.
- Implementation - The Superintendent or designee
shall outline the actions to be taken to implement the policy and,
where appropriate, issue administrative regulations concerning the
policy.
- Evaluation - The policy committee shall arrange for
the annual review of Board policies, which shall include evaluation of
adopted policies and initiation of new policies.
STEPS FOR FORMULATING AND
ADOPTING BOARD POLICIES
- NEED RECOGNIZED: a new policy or changes in
policy required.
- SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNEE PREPARE ABSTRACT:
define issues, and suggest approach.
- POLICY COMMITTEE REVIEW: take a position on
issues, and agree on scope.
- SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNEE: prepare draft
and review with Policy Committee.
- BOARD REVIEW AT WORK SESSION: agree on
substance, and suggest wording changes.
- SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNEE PREPARE FINAL POLICY:
review with legal counsel.
- BOARD ADOPT POLICY: regular meeting or
special session.
- SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNEE DISTRIBUTE POLICY.
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