Policy No. 1300: Policy Adoption, Manuals, and Administrative Procedures
The primary responsibility of the Board of Education is to establish policies to guide the educational and support operations of the school district. Board policy communicates the expressed intent for goals, priorities, parameters, and guidelines to administrators. The superintendent is responsible for establishing administrative procedures to implement board policies.
The superintendent will assist the Board of Education in setting a review schedule to ensure that policies reflect current governance intent and that effective organizational guidance is provided. The superintendent will bring to the board proposed policy revisions as required by federal and state laws or state board rules to ensure that direction and practices comply with those laws. Additional policies will be recommended for board adoption as needed.
Proposed new policies and changes in existing policies shall be presented in writing for reading and discussion. Unless the board deems immediate action in the district's best interests, the final vote for adoption shall occur by the next succeeding regular or special board meeting. Any written statement by any person relative to a proposed policy or amendment should be directed to the board secretary before the second reading. The board may invite oral comments from staff members or patrons as an order of business.
When the Board of Education is considering a district policy or amendment to policy that is not expressly or by implication authorized by state or federal law but which will promote the education of all students in its public schools or will promote the effective, efficient, or safe management and operation of the district, the proposed policy shall be described in any notice of the meetings at which the policy will be considered, if the notice is issued according to the Utah Open and Public Meetings Act. The Board of Education will allow public written and oral comment on such policies before adoption or amendment.
If immediate action on a proposed policy is necessary, the motion for its adoption shall provide that immediate adoption is in the best interest of the district. No further action is required. All new or amended policies shall become effective upon adoption unless a specific effective date is provided in the motion for adoption.
Policies, as adopted or amended, shall be made a part of the meeting minutes at which action was taken and shall also be included in the district's policy manual.
Non-substantive editorial revisions and changes in administrative, legal, and/or cross-references need not be approved by the board.
Each policy series within the board-adopted policies shall be reviewed periodically to ensure relevance and compliance with changing government statutes and/or legal case-law precedents.
Policy Manuals
The superintendent will develop and maintain a current electronic policy manual via the district website, which contains the district's policies. The policy manual/online resource is intended as both a tool for district management and a source of information to community members, staff, and others about how the district operates.
Administrative Procedures
Administrative procedures are the details of the implementation and application of policies. Procedures may only be required for some policies. The superintendent will develop such administrative procedures and other related documents as necessary to ensure consistent implementation of policies adopted by the board. Further, procedures need not be reviewed by the board before their issuance, although the superintendent will provide procedures as information to the board on controversial topics.
Legal References:
Utah Code 52-4-101: Utah Open & Public Meetings
Utah Code 53G-4-402: Act Powers and Duties Generally
Approved by the Board of Education: September 23, 2010