The board will develop and maintain a policy manual that provides a codification of its policy actions.  Board policy provides the general direction as to what the board wishes to accomplish while allowing the superintendent to implement board policy.  Policies will be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure relevance to current practices and compliance with the law.

The written policy statements contained in this manual provide guidelines and goals to the citizens, administration, employees, and students in the school district community.   The policy statements shall be the basis for the formulation of regulations by the administration.   The board shall determine the effectiveness of the policy statements by evaluating periodic reports from the administration.

Policy statements may be proposed by a member of the board, administration, employees, students or other members of the school district community.  Proposed policy statements or ideas shall be submitted to the board through the superintendent's office for placement on the board agenda.  It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to bring these proposals to the attention of the board.

Approved:  07-01-92                
Reviewed:  01-10-94, 11-11-96, 11-09-98, 11-12-01, 11-08-04, 12-12-11, 12-11-14
Revised:  11-08-21

ADOPTION OF POLICY 

The board shall give notice of proposed policy changes or adoption of new policies by placing the item on the agenda of one regular board meeting. The proposed policy changes shall be distributed and public comment will be allowed at the meeting prior to final board action. This notice procedure shall be required except for emergency situations. If the board adopts a policy in an emergency situation, a statement regarding the emergency and the need for immediate adoption of the policy shall be included in the minutes. The board shall have complete discretion to determine what constitutes an emergency situation. 

The final action taken to adopt the proposed policy shall be approved by a simple majority vote of the board at the meeting after allowing public discussion. The policy will be effective on the later of the date of passage or the date stated in the motion. 

In the case of an emergency, a new or changed policy may be adopted by a majority vote of a quorum of the board. The emergency policy shall expire at the close of the third regular meeting following the emergency action, unless the policy adoption procedure stated above is followed and the policy is reaffirmed. 

Approved: Reviewed: 01-10-94, 11-11-96, Revised: 7-1-92, 11-08-21, 11-09-08, 11-12-01, 11-04-04, 3-20-24

A board policy manual shall be housed in each school attendance center and in the administrative office.  Each board member shall have a personal copy of the board policy manual.  Persons wishing to review the board policy manual shall contact the board secretary, who shall have a board policy manual available for public inspection.

It shall be the responsibility of the board secretary to ensure copies of new and revised policy statements are distributed to the custodians of board policy manuals as soon as possible following the policy’s adoption.  Copies of changes in board policy shall also be attached to the minutes of the meetings in which the final action was taken to adopt the new or changed policy.

It shall be the responsibility of each board member, during the board member's term of office, to keep the manual current and up-to-date and to surrender the manual to the board secretary at the conclusion of the board member's term of office.

Approved:                  
Reviewed:  01-10-94, 11-11-96, 11-09-98, 11-12-01, 11-04-01, 11-08-0412-10-07, 12-12-11, 12-11-14
Revised:  07-01-92, 11-08-21

Generally, the board shall follow board policy and enforce it equitably.  The board may, in extreme emergencies of a very unique nature, suspend policy.  It shall be within the discretion of the board to determine when an extreme emergency of a very unique nature exists.

Board policy shall not be suspended by the administration or employees.  Board policy may only be suspended by the board.  Reasons for suspension of board policy will be documented in board minutes.

Approved:  07-01-92             
Reviewed:  01-10-94, 11-11-96, 11-09-98, 11-12-01, 11-08-04, 12-10-07, 12-12-11, 12-11-14           
Revised:  11-08-21

When there is no board policy in existence to provide guidance on a matter, the superintendent is authorized to act appropriately under the circumstances surrounding the situation keeping in mind the educational philosophy of the school district and financial condition of the school district.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to inform the board of the situation and the action taken and to document the action taken when necessary.  If needed, the superintendent shall draft a proposed policy for the board to discuss.

Approved:                  
Reviewed:  01-10-94, 11-11-96, 11-09-98, 11-12-01, 11-08-04, 12-10-07, 12-12-11, 12-11-14
Revised:  11-08-21

The board shall, at least once every five years, review board policy.  Each year, the board may make a determination about the sections and/or series of the policy manual and the specific policies in the policy manual to be reviewed. Once the policy has been reviewed, even if no changes were made, a notation of the date of review shall be made on the face of the policy statement.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to keep the board informed as to legal changes at both the federal and state levels.  The superintendent shall also be responsible for bringing proposed policy statement revisions to the board's attention.

If a policy is revised because of a legal change over which the board has no control, the policy may be approved at one meeting at the discretion of the board.

Approved:  01-10-94           
Reviewed:  11-12-01, 11-8-04, 12-10-07, 12-12-11, 12-11-14
Revised:  11-13-00, 11-08-21

Board policy sets the direction for the administration of the education program and school district operations.  Some policies require administrative regulations for implementation.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations to implement the board policies.  The regulations will be adopted by the board prior to their use in the school district.  At the time of adoption, the board will determine the effective date of the administrative regulation and the date the administrative regulation will be made available.

Approved:                  
Reviewed:  01-10-94, 11-11-96, 11-09-98, 11-12-01, 11-08-04, 12-10-07, 12-11-11, 12-11-14, 11-08-21
Revised:  07-01-92