International School Policy Development
International School Policy Development
S A M P L E B O A R D P O L I C Y
Board Policy Development and Review
Board Responsibility
The Board shall adopt policies to further the mission of the School and to ensure the effective
management and operation of the school. All policies shall be framed and interpreted in accordance with the Charter and By-Laws. Policies are broad statements clearly stating the Board's general expectations regarding the policy issue, not dictating operational procedures.
Required Action
The Board, through the Policy Committee, shall conduct a triennial review of the Policy Manual in the manner specified in the Administrative Protocols. The intent of establishing this triennial review program is to ensure that all policies are reviewed for adequacy and suitability at a minimum of every three years. Moreover, when revision of existing policy or development of a new policy is required, it is not intended that revision/development should be held in abeyance until that portion of Policy Manual is reviewed triennially. Rather, such review and revision of specific policy should be undertaken, as appropriate, as the need arises.
The Director shall advise the Board and Policy Committee on all policies that do not reflect current practice, are at variance with Board actions, and/or require change, as well as the need for development of a new policy. The Policy Committee itself, through its triennial review process, shall similarly advise the Director and the Board of the need for changes.
The Policy Committee shall develop and submit the draft policies to the Board for its approval.
Discretionary Authority in Absence of Policy
The Director is responsible for the administration of the School in accordance with Board
policies. When circumstances require immediate action, but existing policies provide no
guidelines, and there is no time to consult either the full Board or the President, the Director is
empowered to take appropriate action. The Director shall report such action to the Board at the
earliest opportunity. The Board shall take action to provide the necessary policies and guidelines.
Suspension of Policy
The Board may temporarily suspend the operation of any policy not mandated by the Charter or
By-Laws where it determines that applying the policy does not serve the interests of the School.
Should a policy be suspended by the Board, it should be referred to a standing committee or
task force for review resulting in a clear recommendation to the Board within three working
months from the date of suspension of the policy.
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International School Policy Development
S A M P L E B O A R D A D M I N I S T R A T I V E P R O T O C O L S
Board Policy Development and Review
Changes in the Policy Manual are under the primary purview of the Policy Committee. The Committee will complete a review of existing Policy on a triennial basis as outlined below.
The Triennial Review is designed to break the existing Policy Manual into three approximately equal and functionally related segments to permit a complete policy review over each three-academic year cycle. The policy review process begins with a review by the relevant Board committee or designated task force, which subsequentlly makes recommendations to the Policy Committee.
The review cycle is as follows:
Academic Year 1
Chapter 1. The School - Charter; ByLaws; Mission; Organization Chart,
Chapter 2. School Board Operations, and
Chapter 3. Business Operations
... by the Policy Committee
Chapter 4. Facilities ... by the Facilities Committee
Chapter 6. Health and Safety,
Chapter 7. Instruction, and
Chapter 8. Students
... by the Education and Student Life Task Force
Academic Year 2
Chapters 4, 6, 7 & 8 ... by the Policy Committee
Chapter 5. Personnel ... by the Personnel Task Force
Academic Year 3
Chapter 5 ... by the Policy Committee
Chapter 3 ... by the Finance Committee
The Policy Committee shall propose draft policies, with rationale for any changes, to the Board
for review prior to the next scheduled Board meeting. Proposed policy changes shall be considered by the Board and may be adopted either on first reading by a unanimous vote of the Board or on two readings, at separate board meetings, by a majority vote of the Board. In special circumstances, the Board may approve temporary policy changes, pending full review procedures, after a single meeting.
Where there is consensus within the Policy Committee that changes are minor or grammatical in nature they may be passed at the Policy Committee itself after a copy of the proposed changes is sent to the Board for its feedback. In the absence of any board objections, the proposed changes may be passed at the next Policy Committee meeting.