2461

Policy

Administration

Policy and Regulation Systems

The superintendent will establish and maintain an orderly plan for preserving and making accessible the policies adopted by the board, the bylaws adopted by the board, and the regulations of the administration. The board policies, the board bylaws, and the administrative regulations will be published in a manual, maintained in current condition, and made available in the central office to all persons concerned, including the board, staff and the community.

Policies

Policies are statements of intent which are adopted by the board of education. They serve as guides to the administration in the development and implementation of regulations for operating the district.

The superintendent must take the leadership in the policy-making process, by recognizing the need for specific policies and giving the board proposed policy statements for consideration, modification and adoption. The superintendent will develop a regulation specifying the procedures by which policies will be developed and presented to the board.

Regulations

The superintendent will specify the required actions and design the detailed arrangements under which the schools are to be operated. Those regulations and procedures which apply throughout the district are to be designated as “regulations," and are to be placed in the district policies and regulations manual. The regulations will be presented to the board before implementation in the district, but the board will not adopt a regulation unless requested to do so by the superintendent or unless adoption is required by federal or state law. Administrative regulations must be consistent with the policies adopted by the board of education.

Bylaws

Bylaws are the rules governing the internal operations of the board of education. When there is need for a new bylaw, or modification of an existing bylaw is recognized, the superintendent will be directed to develop and present the board with an effective new or modified bylaw for consideration, modification if necessary, and adoption.

The same procedure used for development of policies will be used for development of bylaws.

Handbooks

In order that pertinent board policies and important regulations and procedures may be known by all staff members and students affected by them, administrators are granted authority to issue staff and student handbooks as found necessary and desirable.

The superintendent is responsible for reviewing all handbooks for currency and to ensure their compliance with board policy. The superintendent shall present to the board of education, for approval, all staff and student handbooks. Such approval will occur before the beginning of each school year or at anytime a handbook is substantially changed.

The superintendent has authority to approve all other handbooks and shall notify the board of such approval.

It is essential that the contents of all handbooks conform with school board policies. It is also important that all handbooks bearing the name of the school system or one of its schools be of a quality that reflects credit on the school department. Therefore, the school board expects all handbooks to be approved by the board and/or the superintendent prior to publication.

Board of education approval will be necessary for any handbooks which pertain to programs or required standards of conduct for employees or students so that their contents may be accorded the status of board-approved policy or regulation. The superintendent will use his or her judgment regarding board approval of other specific handbooks. All handbooks published will be made available to the board for informational purposes.

Adopted: December 18, 1989