Policies Table of Contents

 

BOARD POLICY 9: POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND REVIEW

Preamble

Policy development is a key responsibility of the Charter Board of Directors (“The Board”) Policies establish the framework that guides the operation of Valhalla Community School. 

Board policies shall provide an appropriate balance between the responsibility of the Board to develop the broad guidelines for VCS and the opportunity for the Superintendent to exercise professional judgement in the operation of the school through administrative procedures.

The Board shall be guided in its approach to policy making by ensuring compliance with the Education Act, the Charter School Regulations, other relevant provincial legislation and the Valhalla School Foundation Bylaws.

While reserving unto itself the authority and responsibility to determine and adopt or amend or rescind policies, the Board encourages Foundation Members to suggest policies as well as participate in the policy-making process through constructive feedback. 

  1. Initiating, Implementing and Evaluating Board Policy:

1.1 Initiation
The Board, in consultation with the Superintendent, shall assess the need for policy as a result of Ministerial directives, the Board’s own monitoring activities, or requests from Foundation Members and shall identify the critical attributes of each policy to be developed.

1.2 Implementation
The Board is responsible for the implementation of policies governing its own processes. The Board and Superintendent share the responsibility for implementation of policies relating to the Board/Superintendent relationship. The Superintendent is responsible for the implementation of all other policies through the development of Administrative Procedures.

1.3 Evaluation
The Board, in cooperation with the Superintendent, shall review each policy in a timely manner in order to evaluate whether a policy is or is not meeting its intended purpose.

  1. Steps in Policy Development

2.1 New or revised policy initiatives may be suggested by any individual or group upon a written request to the Superintendent who brings the matter to the Board, or through the Board’s own process of regularly reviewing its policies. 

2.2 The Board reserves for itself the right to determine if there is a need to establish or revise, or rescind policy, or if a policy matter may be delegated to the Superintendent for consideration and development of an Administrative Procedure. 

2.3 The Board may refer to a committee or the Superintendent the responsibility to draft new policy or amendments to an existing policy, or evaluate rescindment of a policy. 

2.4 All policies should:

  • 4.1 Create a framework within which the Superintendent can discharge assigned responsibilities.
  • 4.2 Be capable of implementation and review.
  • 4.3 Be limited to a single policy topic and written in clear, concise language.
  • 4.4 Align with the Education Act, other relevant legislation, Foundation Bylaws, and the Charter.

2.5 The Board may choose to approve the draft of a new or amended policy, or to circulate such to the Foundation Members for input/comments. The Board or the Superintendent may meet to consult with the following groups as deemed appropriate:

  • 5.1 Administration
  • 5.2 School Council
  • 5.3 Staff
  • 5.4 Foundation Members

2.6 If policy is circulated, the Board shall give consideration to the input and thereafter approve the policy in its original or amended form, or rescind the policy.  

2.7 New or revised policies will become effective on the date of Board approval unless otherwise indicated in a Board motion.

2.8 In the absence of existing policy, the Board may make decisions, by resolution, on matters affecting VCS. Such decisions carry the weight of policy until such time as specific written policy is developed.

2.9 The Board may direct that an administrative procedure be written as a draft Board policy, and in so doing shall provide the rationale for the request.

2.10 The Superintendent must develop administrative procedures and may develop such other procedures as deemed necessary for the effective operation of VCS; these must be in accordance with Board policies. The Superintendent shall inform the Board of any changes to administrative procedures.

2.11The Board may, as it deems appropriate, delete a policy and assign authority for the previous policy to the Superintendent. The Superintendent may choose then to develop an administrative procedure relative to this matter.

2.12 The Superintendent, or delegate is responsible to post the Board Policy Handbook to the School’s website and to ensure that new policies are included in the Board Policy Handbook, the Table of Contents is amended as needed; and amended policies replace previous versions within fourteen (14) business days of approval.

  1. Policy Review

The Board, with support and advice from the Superintendent, shall be responsible for overseeing the policy review process in accordance with the following:

  • 1 Each policy shall be reviewed at least once every three years to assess the impact of policy in supporting the vision, mission and goals of Valhalla Community School.
  • 2 Policy shall be developed or amended or rescinded, as the case may be, in response to any changes in the Education Act or other relevant provincial legislation
  • 3 The Superintendent shall make recommendations to the Board for revision, deletion or reclassification of existing policies identified through the review process.

 

 

 

Adoption:         April 2023

Reviewed:         February 2024

References:        Education Act s.33.53,222