The board has jurisdiction to legislate policy for the school district with the force and effect of law.  Board policy provides the general direction as to what the board wishes to accomplish while allowing the superintendent to implement board policy.

The written policy statements contained in this manual provide guidelines and goals to the citizens, administration, employees and students in the school district community.  The policy statements shall be the basis for the formulation of regulations by the administration.  The board shall determine the effectiveness of the policy statements by evaluating periodic reports from the administration.

Policy statements may be proposed by a board member, administrator, employee, student or member of the school district community.  Proposed policy statements or ideas shall be submitted to the superintendent's office for possible placement on the board agenda.  It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to bring these proposals to the attention of the board.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 274.1-.2; 279.8; 280.12 (1995).
                                       281 I.A.C. 12.3(2).
                                       1970 Op. Att'y Gen. 287.

Cross Reference:  101      Educational Philosophy of the School District
                                       200.2  Powers of the Board of Directors
                                       200.3  Responsibilities of the Board of Directors
                                       209      Board of Directors' Management Procedures

Approved  7/10/89                  
Reviewed  10/18/21                        
Revised  11/13/95   

 The board shall give notice of proposed policy changes or adoption of new policies by placing the item on the agenda of two regular board meetings.  The proposed policy changes shall be distributed and public comment will be allowed at both meetings prior to final board action.  This notice procedure shall be required except for emergency situations.  If the board adopts a policy in an emergency situation, a statement regarding the emergency and the need for immediate adoption of the policy shall be included in the minutes.  The board shall have complete discretion to determine what constitutes an emergency situation.

The final action taken to adopt the proposed policy shall be approved by a simple majority vote of the board at the next regular meeting after the meeting allowing public discussion.  The policy will be effective on the later of the date of passage or the date stated in the motion.

In the case of an emergency, a new or changed policy may be adopted by a majority vote of a quorum of the board.  The emergency policy shall expire at the close of the third regular meeting following the emergency action, unless the policy adoption procedure stated above is followed and the policy is reaffirmed.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code § 279.8 (1995).
                                       281 I.A.C. 12.3(2).
                                       1970 Op. Att'y Gen. 287.

Cross Reference:  200.2  Powers of the Board of Directors
                                       200.3  Responsibilities of the Board of Directors
                                       209      Board of Directors' Management Procedure

Approved  7/10/89                  
Reviewed  10/18/21                       
Revised  11/13/95   

A board policy manual shall be housed in each school attendance center and in the central administration office.  Each board member shall have a personal copy of the board policy manual.  Persons wishing to review the board policy manual shall contact the board secretary, who shall have a board policy manual available for public inspection.

It shall be the responsibility of the board secretary to ensure copies of new and revised policy statements are distributed to the custodians of board policy manuals no later than the first regular board meeting following the policy's adoption.  Copies of changes in board policy shall also be included in or attached to the minutes of the meetings in which the final action was taken to adopt the new or changed policy.

It shall be the responsibility of each board member, during the board member's term of office, to keep the manual current and up-to-date and to surrender the manual to the board secretary at the conclusion of the board member's term of office.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 277.31; 279.8 (1995).
                                       281 I.A.C. 12.3(2).

Cross Reference:  200.3  Responsibilities of the Board of Directors
                                       209    Board of Directors' Management Procedure

Approved  7/10/89                  
Reviewed  10/18/21            
Revised  11/13/95  

Generally, the board shall follow board policy and enforce it equitably.  The board, and only the board, may, in extreme emergencies of a very unique nature, suspend policy.  It shall be within the discretion of the board to determine when an extreme emergency of a very unique nature exists.  Reasons for suspension of board policy shall be documented in board minutes.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code § 279.8 (1995).
                                       281 I.A.C. 12.3(2).

Cross Reference:  200.3  Responsibilities of the Board of Directors
                                       209      Board of Directors' Management Procedure

Approved  11/13/95                
Reviewed   10/18/21                           
Revised                  

When there is no board policy in existence to provide guidance on a matter, the superintendent is authorized to act appropriately under the circumstances surrounding the situation keeping in mind the educational philosophy and financial condition of the school district.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to inform the board of the situation and the action taken and to document the action taken.  If needed, the superintendent shall draft a proposed policy for the board to consider.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code § 279.8 (1995).
                                       281 I.A.C. 12.3(2).

Cross Reference:  200.3  Responsibilities of the Board of Directors
                                       209      Board of Directors' Management Procedure
                                       302.4  Superintendent Duties
                                       304      Policy Implementation

Approved  7/10/89                  
Reviewed  10/18/21              
Revised  11/13/95  

The board shall, at least once every five years, review board policy.  Once the policy has been reviewed, even if no changes were made, a notation of the date of review shall be made on the face of the policy statement.

The board will review one-fifth of the policy manual annually according to the following subject areas:

• School District (Series 100)
• Board of Directors (Series 200)
• Administration, Employees (Series 300 and 400)
• Students (Series 500)
• Education (Series 600)
• Non-instructional Operations and Business Services, Buildings and Sites, School District-Community Relations (Series 700, 800 and 900)

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to keep the board informed as to legal changes at both the federal and state levels.  The superintendent shall also be responsible for bringing proposed policy statement revisions to the board's attention.

If a policy is revised because of a legal change over which the board has no control or a change which is minor, the policy may be approved at one meeting at the discretion of the board.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code § 279.8 (1999).
                                       281 I.A.C. 12.3(2).

Cross Reference:  200.3  Responsibilities of the Board of Directors
                                       209      Board of Directors' Management Procedures

Approved 7/10/89   
Reviewed 10/18/21                                       
Revised 11/11/13

Board policy sets the direction for the administration of the education program and school district operations.  Some policies require administrative regulations for implementation.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations to implement the board policies.  The regulations, including handbooks, will be approved by the board prior to their use in the school district.

The administrative regulations will be available no later than the first regular board meeting after the adoption of the board policy unless the board directs otherwise.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code § 279.8, .20 (1995).

Cross Reference:  200.3  Responsibilities of the Board of Directors
                                       209      Board of Directors' Management Procedures

Approved  7/10/89     
Reviewed  10/18/21                                     
Revised  11/13/95