9326 - Bylaws Policy and Regulation System

By-Laws and Internal Policies

9326 – Bylaws, Policy and Regulations System

The development and implementation of school district policy is a critical function of the Board of Education (Board). Board policies translate beliefs and desires of the elected Board members into action through the Superintendent of Schools (Superintendent) and the school staff. Polices provide a way for the Board to shape district education through specifying in Board policy, the Board’s educational philosophy or mission as well as provide for “what is be done” in the school district. The Superintendent creates regulations to accompany Board policies where appropriate to establish “how it will be done.”

The Superintendent shall establish regulations to accompany this policy outlining procedures for the formulation, adoption, amendment or revocation of bylaws, policies and regulations and for the maintenance of the Board‘s policy manual.

Policies

Policies are statements of intent adopted by the Board. They serve as a guide to the administration in the development and implementation of regulations for operating the district.

Policies are to be adopted only after an appropriate period of time for consideration and deliberation, as described in the regulations accompanying this policy. It shall be implicit with the adoption of any Policy pursuant to these procedures, that any existent Board Policy, which is in direct conflict with the newly adopted Policy, shall be revoked. It shall always be a preferred practice, however, to explicitly revoke or amend obsolete Policies or Policies in conflict with newly adopted Policies.

It is and shall continue to be the practice of the Board to adopt and maintain all policies directed to be in place by operation of the Connecticut General Statutes. Until the adoption of any such mandatory policy, the Board shall be deemed to have acquiesced to those Policies required by Connecticut General Statutes and/or to have amended any existing Policies in conformance with state law.

The Superintendent is an integral part of the policy-making process recommending to the Board areas requiring policy adoption or change.

Regulations

Regulations accompany and guide the implementation of board policy. The purpose of regulations is to specify recommended or required staff actions and also to direct the operations of the school district. The Superintendent is responsible for the development and implementation of district regulations. Regulations shall be consistent with adopted board policies and capable of reasonable implementation.

Regulations shall be presented to the Board, but the Board will not adopt regulations unless requested to do so by the Superintendent or unless required by federal or state law.

Bylaws

Bylaws are the rules governing internal operations of the Board. When need for a new bylaw, or modification of an existing bylaw is recognized, the Board will consider an effective new or modified

bylaw for adoption. The same procedure used for development of policies shall be used for development of by laws.

Board Manual

The Superintendent shall establish and maintain an orderly plan for preserving and making accessible policies and bylaws adopted by the Board, and the regulations of the administration. Board bylaws, policies and administrative regulations shall be published in a manual, maintained in current condition, and made available to all persons concerned.

Legal References:

Connecticut General Statutes

10-221 Boards of education to prescribe rules, policies and procedures

Policy Adopted: April 2002

Revised: November 2019

Replaces: 2003-1

R-9326 - By laws, Policy and Regulations System

1. Formulation, Adoption, Amendment and/or Revocation of Policies

The Board shall formulate, adopt, amend and revoke Policies where appropriate for the operation and improvement of the schools. Such Policies shall be adopted, amended or revoked only after reading and consideration at no fewer than two meetings of the Board of Education. The adoption, amendment and/or revocation of Policies shall be by majority vote of a quorum of the Board of Education at a regular meeting of the Board at which a second or subsequent reading of such Policy has taken place.

Policies are to be adopted only after an appropriate period of time for consideration and deliberation, as described herein. It shall be implicit with the adoption of any Policy pursuant to these procedures, that any existent Board Policy, which is in direct conflict with the newly adopted Policy, shall be revoked. It shall always be a preferred practice, however, to explicitly revoke or amend obsolete Policies or Policies in conflict with newly adopted Policies.

It is and shall continue to be the practice of the Board to adopt and maintain all policies directed to be in place by operation of the Connecticut General Statutes. Until the adoption of any such mandatory policy, the Board shall be deemed to have acquiesced to those Policies required by Connecticut General Statutes and/or to have amended any existing Policies in conformance with state law.

2. Formulation, Adoption Amendment and/or revocation of Administrative Regulations

The Superintendent of Schools is directed to promulgate Administrative Regulations, where appropriate, in a manner consistent with the Policies of the Board of Education. Although no formal action is necessary by the Board of Education to promulgate Administrative Regulations, no such Regulations shall be implemented until they have been presented to the Board at a regular meeting.

3. Administrative Protocols for the Creation, Distribution and Conservation of Board of Education Policies

3. 1. 1. Upon consultation with the Superintendent, the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent will prepare policy materials for Board of Education meetings.

      2. The Board of Education will review new or revised policies as a first reading at a Board of Education meeting.

      3. The Board will indicate changes/modifications at a Board of Education meeting. Those changes/modifications will be made to the policy by the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, in consultation with the Superintendent, using cross outs and bolds. The revised policy will then be returned to the Board for a second reading, and possible approval, at a Regular Board meeting.

      4. The policy will be adopted at a Regular Board of Education Meeting.

      5. The adopted policy with the adopted/revised date indicated will be inserted into a master Board of Education Policy Manual, and will be maintained in Central Office with all current Policies. All policies will be maintained online.

      6. The master Board of Education Policy Manual will not be removed from the Central Office.