Policy 6
POLICY MAKING AND REVIEW
Policy development is a key responsibility of the Board. Policies constitute the will of the Board in determining how the District will be operated and communicate the Board’s values, beliefs and expectations. Policies provide direction and guidelines for the action of the Board, Superintendent, staff and students. Policies also serve as sources of information and guidelines to all who may be interested in or connected with the operation of the District. Adoption of new Board policies or revision of existing policies is solely the responsibility of the Board.
The Board shall be guided in its approach to policy making by ensuring adherence to the requirements necessary to provide public education and compliance with the School Act and provincial as well as federal legislation, and the Board’s commitment to broad district and community consultation.
Board policies shall provide an appropriate balance between the responsibility of the Board to develop the broad guidelines to guide the District and the opportunity for the Superintendent to exercise professional judgment in the administration of the District.
The Board will utilize the Policy Committee in carrying out its policy role.
The Board believes in the establishment and review of policy which reflects the values and perspectives outlined in Policy 1 – Foundational Statements.
The Board shall adhere to the following stages in its approach to policy making:
- Planning
The Board, in cooperation with the Superintendent, shall assess the need for a policy, as a result of its own monitoring activities or on the suggestion of others, and identify the critical attributes of each policy to be developed. - Development
The Board may develop the policy itself or delegate the responsibility for its development to the Superintendent. - Implementation
The Board is responsible for the implementation of policies governing its own processes. The Board and Superintendent share the responsibility for implementation of policies relating to the Board-Superintendent relationship. The Superintendent is responsible for the implementation of the other policies. - Evaluation
The Board, in cooperation with the Superintendent, shall evaluate each policy in a timely manner in order to determine if it is meeting its intended purpose. The Board shall review its policies following a schedule that results in all policies in the Board Policy Manual being reviewed at least once in a Board term of office.
Specifically
- Any trustee, employee, parent, student or other community member may make suggestions regarding the possible development of a policy or the need for policy revisions on any matter by presenting a proposal for a policy or revisions, in writing, to the Superintendent. The proposal shall contain a brief statement of purpose or rationale.
- The Superintendent will inform the Board of the request for policy development/revision. The Board will determine the action to be taken.
- Policy drafts shall be brought by the Superintendent to the Policy Committee for consideration by the committee and partner group representatives, and possible recommendation to the Board.
- The Board or Policy Committee will determine whether further information or consultation is required, but in general invites consultations with and feedback from partner groups on any proposed policy.
- When the Board is considering adding, modifying or deleting a policy, a trustee will serve notice of motion at a regular public meeting of the Board of their intention to move the policy motion at a regular public meeting of the Board scheduled for a date that will normally allow for approximately two months of consultation. As necessary, attached to each notice of motion will be an impact statement indicating the significance of the change proposed. Groups representing all parties affected by the proposed change in policy will be advised directly and provided with a copy of the draft policy. This notice provides the public and all interested parties approximately two months for reflection, representation or for proposed revisions.
- Once the Policy Committee has considered any information or proposed revisions the policy may be recommended to the Board for approval.
- Only those policies which are adopted and recorded in the minutes constitute the official policies of the Board.
- In the absence of existing policy, the Board may make decisions, by resolution, on matters affecting the administration, management and operation of the District. Such decisions carry the weight of policy until such time as specific written policy is developed.
- If the Board adopts a motion which has continuing applicability the Board shall seek means to include the direction of such motion as part of an existing policy or to develop a free-standing policy to reflect the direction contained in the motion.
- The Board may request the Superintendent to change an administrative procedure to a draft Board policy.
- The Superintendent must inform the Board as soon as practicable of any new administrative procedure or substantive changes to administrative procedures as an information item in a Board agenda.
- The Superintendent shall arrange for all Board policies and administrative procedures and subsequent revisions to be posted on the District’s website, in a timely manner, for staff and public access.
|
Reference: |
|
|
Approved: |
|
|
Amended: |
|