0200: Policy Adoption and Revision, and Administrative Procedures

Policies and procedures of the District should prioritize the needs of and positive outcomes for all students; and they should reflect and promote the mission, vision, and values of the District, as well as its commitment to equity and accountability. When developing policies and procedures, the Board and District should consider, among other factors, relevant District data, input from relevant stakeholders, research-backed best practices, and responsible and sustainable use of resources.

If a new or updated policy or procedure is expected to take time to enact and will not be fully applied on the date of its passage, a clear timeline should be provided for implementation of the updated or new policies or procedures.

Policy Revision, Review, and Adoption

Proposed new policies and proposed changes in existing policies will be presented in writing to the Board for reading and discussion. Unless it is deemed by the Board that immediate action would be in the best interests of the district, the vote for adoption will take place not earlier than the next succeeding regular or special Board meeting. Any written feedback by any person relative to a proposed new policy or proposed changes to a policy amendment should be directed to the Superintendent or designee prior to the second reading. The Board may invite oral statements from staff members or community members as an order of business.

When the Board of Directors is considering a policy or amendments to a policy that are not expressly or by implication authorized by state or federal law, but which will promote the education of students or the effective, efficient, or safe management and operation of the district, the proposed policy will be described in any notice of the meetings at which the policy will be considered. The Board of Directors will provide an opportunity for written comment and oral comment may be made during the public comment period of regular school board meetings.

In the event that immediate action on a proposed policy is necessary, the motion for its adoption will state that immediate adoption is in the best interest of the district. No further action is required. All new or amended policies will become effective upon adoption, unless a specific effective date isprovided in the motion for adoption.

Policies as adopted or amended will be made a part of the minutes of the meeting at which action was taken on the policies and will also be included in the district’s on-line policy manual.

Non-substantive editorial revisions and changes in administrative, legal and/or cross references need not be approved by the Board.

Policies will continue from year to year and Board to Board until and unless the Board changes them.

Policy Language Guidelines

When creating and editing policies, the Board will apply the following guidelines to the extent practical:

• Policies will repeat law only when required by law or when it serves a useful tutorial purpose.
• Policies will generally avoid vague introductory language (i.e., they will err on the side of brevity).
• Policies will avoid general philosophical language except when that language imposes an implied requirement on the district.
• Policies will not include language that imposes requirements on outside agencies

The Superintendent or designee will develop procedures to this policy that describe the process for the revision, review, adoption, and maintenance of Board Policies to advance the mission, vision, values, commitment to equity and accountability, and strategic and annual goals of the District,

Policy Manual and Maintenance

The Superintendent or designee will develop and maintain a current online policy manual on the District’s website which contains the policies of the district. Online policies will provide ready access to related administrative procedures. The District will maintain an archive of all policies and policy revisions approved by the Board. The Superintendent or designee will ensure that the policy manual is able to be recovered in case of loss due to disaster.

Administrative Procedures

The Superintendent or designee will develop such administrative procedures as are necessary to ensure consistent implementation of policies adopted by the Board, with the exception of the 0000 and 1000 series procedures, which will be reviewed and revised as needed by the Board, occasionally with assistance and input from the Superintendent or designated staff. On occasion, the Board may specify in a 0000 or 1000 series policy that the Superintendent will create and maintain part or all of a procedure for that policy. Regardless of whether created or updated by the Board or the Superintendent, when a procedure in the 0000 or 1000 series is created or updated, the Board must vote to approve.

When a written procedure in any other series of policies is created or updated, the Superintendent will submit the new or updated procedure to the Board as an information item at the next regularly scheduled meeting. Such procedures need not be approved by the Board, though the Board may request a revision when it appears that a procedure is not consistent with the Board’s intentions as expressed in its policies. Procedures need not be reviewed by the Board prior to their issuance; however, on topics of significant community interest, the Superintendent or designee may request prior Board consultation. All administrative procedures will be posted on the district website in a timely fashion.

Legal References

• RCW 28A.320.010 Corporate powers
• RCW 28A.320.040 Directors — Bylaws for Board and school government; ordinances, rules, resolutions, regulations, etc, adopted at public meetings – Notice – Secret voting prohibited