Policy Development
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 to 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 and others by common sense. Some policy statements may be 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 and employee handbooks include policies of the school board, but these handbooks should not be considered the board’s 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 CAN A POLICY MANUAL BE KEPT UP-TO-DATE ONCE IT IS ASSEMBLED?
This can be done by constant monitoring of new legislation, administrative regulations, court decisions, and all actions of the board to determine whether they affect existing policies or require new policies. This is an on-going process. The ISBA can provide professional help to school boards in accomplishing these tasks.
HOW CAN ISBA HELP?
ISBA provides sample policies on individual topics and legal review of current policies and creates and distributes sample policies on topics which the Indiana General Assembly or U.S. Congress mandates local school boards adopt.
CAN ISBA HELP TO KEEP A LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD CURRENT ON POLICY?
Yes. ISBA provides consultation services to determine if new policies developed by your board are legal. ISBA publishes on a quarterly basis in the ISBA Journal an article containing information on board policy development and new policies required by law. It is entitled “Policy Advisor.” ISBA also provides updated required policies to its members on an as-needed basis by electronic communications.
Additional policy services are available for a fee through ISBA's Comprehensive Policy Management Services (CPMS).
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 to 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 and others by common sense. Some policy statements may be 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 and employee handbooks include policies of the school board, but these handbooks should not be considered the board’s 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 CAN A POLICY MANUAL BE KEPT UP-TO-DATE ONCE IT IS ASSEMBLED?
This can be done by constant monitoring of new legislation, administrative regulations, court decisions, and all actions of the board to determine whether they affect existing policies or require new policies. This is an on-going process. The ISBA can provide professional help to school boards in accomplishing these tasks.
HOW CAN ISBA HELP?
ISBA provides sample policies on individual topics and legal review of current policies and creates and distributes sample policies on topics which the Indiana General Assembly or U.S. Congress mandates local school boards adopt.
CAN ISBA HELP TO KEEP A LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD CURRENT ON POLICY?
Yes. ISBA provides consultation services to determine if new policies developed by your board are legal. ISBA publishes on a quarterly basis in the ISBA Journal an article containing information on board policy development and new policies required by law. It is entitled “Policy Advisor.” ISBA also provides updated required policies to its members on an as-needed basis by electronic communications.
Additional policy services are available for a fee through ISBA's Comprehensive Policy Management Services (CPMS).
Contact:
Julie M. Slavens,
Senior Counsel/Director of Policy Services
Phone: (317) 639-4362
Email: jslavens@isba-ind.org
Julie M. Slavens,
Senior Counsel/Director of Policy Services
Phone: (317) 639-4362
Email: jslavens@isba-ind.org
