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I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to emphasize the importance of the policy-making role of the Moorhead School Board and provide the means for it to be an ongoing effort.

II. GENERAL STATEMENT

Formal guidelines are necessary to ensure the school community and the Moorhead Area Public School system respond to its mission and operates in an effective, efficient and consistent manner. A set of written policies shall be maintained and modified as needed. Policies should define the desire and intent of the Moorhead School Board and should be in a format that is sufficiently explicit to guide administrative action.

III. DEVELOPMENT OF POLICY

A. The Moorhead School Board has the jurisdiction to legislate policy with the force and effect of law for the school district. School district policy provides the School Board's general direction as to what the School Board wishes to accomplish while delegating implementation of the policy to administration.

B. The school district's policies provide guidelines and goals to the school community. The policies are the basis for guidelines and procedures created by the administration. The School Board shall determine the effectiveness of the policies by evaluating periodic reports from the administration.

C. Policies may be proposed by a School Board member, employee, student, or resident of the school district. Proposed policies or ideas shall be submitted to the Superintendent for review prior to possible placement on the School Board agenda.

IV. ADOPTION AND REVIEW OF POLICY

A. The Moorhead School Board shall give notice of proposed policy changes or adoption of new policies by placing the item on the agenda of two School Board meetings. The policy changes shall be reviewed by the school district's Policy Review Committee before placing them on the School Board agenda. Proposals will be distributed, and School Board and public comment will be allowed at both meetings prior to final School Board action.

B. The final action taken to adopt the proposed policy shall be approved by simple majority vote of the School Board after two meetings at which public input was received. The policy will become effective on the latter of the date the policy of passage or the date stated in the motion.

C. In an emergency, a new or modified policy may be adopted by a majority vote of a quorum of the School Board in a single meeting. A statement regarding the emergency and the need for immediate adoption of the policy shall be included in the minutes. The policy adopted in an emergency shall expire within one (1) year following the emergency action unless the policy adoption procedure stated above is followed and the policy reaffirmed. The School Board has the discretion to determine what constitutes an emergency.

D. If a policy is modified with minor changes that do not affect the substance of the policy or because of a legal change over which the School Board has no control, the modified policy may be approved at one (1) meeting at the discretion of the School Board.

V. IMPLEMENTATION OF AND ACCESS TO POLICY

A. The Superintendent shall be responsible for implementing Moorhead School Board policies, other than the policies that cover how the school board will operate. The superintendent shall develop administrative guidelines and procedures to provide greater specificity and consistency in the process of implementation. These guidelines and directives, including employee and student handbooks, shall be subject to annual review and approval of the School Board.

B. Moorhead School Board members, employees, and community stakeholders will be able to access school district policies at the school district's Web site (www.moorheadschools.org).

C. It shall be the responsibility of the Superintendent, School Board secretary or designee, and individual School Board members, shall be responsible for keeping the policies current.

D. The School Board shall review policies at least once every three years. The Superintendent shall be responsible for developing a system of periodic review, addressing approximately one-third of the policies annually. In addition, the School Board shall review the following policies annually: Student Discipline 506, 806 School District Crisis Management, 722 Public Data Requests, and 524 Moorhead Area Public Schools Electronic Network Acceptable Use and Safety.

Legal References:
Minn. Stat. 123B.02 Subd. 1 (School District Powers)
Minn. Stat. 123B.09 Subd. 1 (School Board Powers)

Cross References:
Moorhead School Board Policy 201: School Board Legal Status
Moorhead School Board Policy 310: School Superintendent
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 208 (Development, Adoption and Implementation of Policies)