SCHOOL COMMITTEE POLICY DEVELOPMENT

It is the responsibility of the School Committee to develop written policies so that they may serve as guides for the discretionary action of those to whom it delegates authority. The formulation and adoption of such written policies constitutes the fundamental method by which the School Committee provides leadership and governance to ensure the successful and efficient functioning of the school system.

The formal adoption of policies will be recorded in the minutes of the School Committee. Only those written statements so adopted and so recorded will be regarded as official School Committee policy. Other regulations developed by district administration that provide further guidance may be included in the School Committee Policy Manual and may be amended, as needed, by the administration as long as such regulations are consistent with approved policy. These regulations shall be designated by an extension, such as -R (i.e. BC-R) or -F (i.e. BC-F).

The School Committee accepts the definition of policy set forth by the National School Boards Association: Policies are principles adopted by a School Committee to chart a course of action. They tell what is wanted; they may include why and how much. Policies should be broad enough to indicate a line of action to be followed by the administration in meeting day-to-day problems, yet be specific enough to give clear guidance.

The policies of the School Committee are framed, and are meant to be interpreted in terms of state law, regulations of the Rhode Island Department of Education, and other regulatory agencies of the various levels of government.

LEGAL REFERENCE: Rhode Island General Laws, §16-2-16; §16-2-9(2)

ADOPTED: October 16, 2017