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Indiana School Boards Association |
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Indiana School Boards Association |
Legal
About ISBA’s Policy Development Services
What is the relationship between school board members and policy?
School board members are policy makers. School boards function as members of a governmental body in a representative democracy. Just as the laws of the legislature are in writing, the policies of a school board must be written.
What is the purpose of school board policy?
Board policies set a definite course of action and help to guide and determine present and future decisions. Board policy should tell administrators what to do without telling them how to do it. Policy statements are written in broad, general terms, but also narrow enough for clear, concise guidance.
Why does a school corporation need policies and a policy manual?
Local school corporations are governed through policies developed and adopted by the school board. Some policies are required by law, others by common sense. Some policy statements may lie buried in board meeting minutes or other records. Your policy manual gathers all school corporation policies into one place which is easily accessible to board members, administrators, staff members, and members of the community.
What should an effective manual contain?
An effective manual should contain an index for each chapter, a table of contents, and all policies adopted by the school board. Administrative regulations implementing current policies may also be included in the policy manual. Student handbooks are also policies of the school board and reference to them should be made in the policy manual.
What's the best way to arrange material?
Use a codification system. A flexible index should be utilized that can be expanded to cover all school governance situations without rearranging the policies with each new addition.
How is a manual kept up-to-date once it’s assembled?
This can be done by constant monitoring of new legislation, administrative regulations, court decisions, negotiated contracts, and all actions of the board to determine whether they affect existing policies or require new policies. This is a time-consuming process. The Indiana School Boards Association Policy Development Service can provide professional help. Payment of ISBA annual dues entitles boards to use this service.
How can ISBA help?
The ISBA Policy Development Service can provide sample policies on individual topics, provide legal review of current policies, create and distribute sample policies on topics which the Indiana General Assembly or U.S.Congress mandates local school boards adopt, present short clinic sessions on policy development to a local school board or educational groups, create policies on individual topics upon request, and review current policy manuals to determine the updating needs of the manual.
Can ISBA help to keep a local school board policy manual current?
Yes. The ISBA Policy Development Service can aid in monitoring your school corporation's need for new, revised or updated policies. ISBA also provides consultation services to determine if new policies developed by your board are legal and where they should be in the manual. ISBA publishes a quarterly newsletter containing articles and information on board policy development and new policies required by law. It is sent to the board’s ISBA Policy Liaison or the board president and the superintendent. (See box below.)
Who do we contact to get more details?
Contact Julie M. Slavens, Staff Attorney, Policy Development at (317) 639-0330, ext.111, or by e-mail at jslavens@isba-ind.org
ISBA Policy Liaison
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Select one of your board members to be the ISBA Policy Liaison. |
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On the ISBA Directory form, designate who has been selected as the ISBA Policy Liaison. |
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If no person is designated as the policy liaison by the board, the board president will be so designated. |
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The ISBA Policy Liaison and your superintendent will receive the quarterly newsletter on policy development, the ISBA Policy Advisor. |
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The newsletter should be shared with other board members and administrators. |
Policy Development and Adoption Model
1. Focus on the subject matter
2. Gather information and input
3. Prepare and review a draft
4. First reading
5. Revise a draft
6. Second reading
7. Adopt the policy
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