MSD Policies
BOSC
101.1 School Board Policies
The development and adoption of policies that govern the school unit is one of the Board of School Committee’s most important functions. Board policies establish the goals, direction and structure of the district under the authority of applicable statutes and regulations. In addition to policies required by state and federal laws and regulations, the Board adopts policies to provide direction to the Superintendent and other administrators in the management of the district, to guide the education program, and to provide clear expectations for school staff, students and parents.
Board policies are intended to provide the framework for district operations and the educational system. In general, the operational details as to how policies will be implemented are contained in administrative procedures developed by the administration. However, the Board will adopt administrative procedures concerning its own operations and when the Board decides that an issue is of sufficient legal, educational and/or community importance to warrant a Board-level procedure.
Policy Procedure
A. The Coordination Committee is responsible for recommending policy actions to the Board for its consideration, including adopting new policies, revising existing policies and deleting obsolete policies.
Individual Board members, Board standing or special committees, the Superintendent or other interested persons may submit policy suggestions and concerns to the Clerk, who shall place the policy on the appropriate committee’s next agenda. If a policy is referred to a committee other than the Coordination Committee for initial review, the policy shall be submitted to the Coordination Committee following that committee’s review. For example, a policy concerning IT will be reviewed by the IT Committee before it is reviewed by the Coordination Committee and full Board.
The Coordination Committee, with the assistance of the Superintendent, will review and research policy suggestions and prepare draft policies, as appropriate. Research and drafting may be delegated to school staff or others at the discretion of the Coordination Committee and the Superintendent.
The Superintendent shall notify the teachers’ association of any new, proposed or revised policies, and the Superintendent and Coordination Committee shall meet and consult with the association upon request.
As appropriate to the particular topic, the Coordination Committee may also seek input from other affected persons and/or groups.
B. Recommended new and revised policies and recommendations for policy deletions shall be placed on the agenda of a Board of School Committee in the form of a Coordination Committee report which will include the Coordination Committee’s recommendations.
C. Any changes agreed upon by the Board during the first reading shall be made by the Coordination Committee prior to the second reading.
D. At the next Board of School Committee meeting (or a later meeting if so agreed by the Board), the policy shall be placed on the agenda for a second reading and action. Amendments may be made and acted upon. If the policy is not approved by majority vote, the process for that policy is ended unless the Board agrees to table consideration of the policy to a specific date.
E. Approved policies become effective immediately unless the motion to approve the policy, or the policy itself, includes a specific implementation date.
F. Notice of new, revised and deleted policies will be provided to affected groups (i.e., school staff, students, parents) and posted on the district website and by other such appropriate means determined by the Superintendent.
G. The Superintendent shall retain copies of all policies deleted from the Board policy manual for future reference.
H. An up-to-date policy manual shall be maintained in the Superintendent’s Office and on the district website.
Cross Reference: Rules of the Board of School Committee
First Reading at Coordination: 6/8/15
Second Reading and Adoption by BOSC: 6/22/15