BG - R - POLICY ADOPTION PROCEDURES

BG - R - POLICY ADOPTION PROCEDURES

The following procedure shall be used to develop, adopt, review, revise and/or delete RSU 21 School Board policies:

1. The Board’s Policy Committee is charged with reviewing and recommending all new policies and policy changes to be considered by the Board.
   1. Individual Board members, Board subcommittees, the Superintendent, and members of the public may submit policy suggestions and concerns directly to the Policy Committee, provided that such recommendations comply with the requirements of Section 4b of policy BG - School Board Policy Process. Any such policy recommendation submitted to the Board Chair or Superintendent shall be promptly forwarded to the Chair of the Policy Committee.  Policy suggestions that are submitted to the Board Chair or the Superintendent will be forwarded to the Policy Committee. School unit employees should follow any and all applicable administrative procedures and/or collective bargaining agreement provisions for submitting policy suggestions.
       
   2. The Policy Committee, together with the Superintendent or a designee, shall be responsible for reviewing and researching suggestions for new policies and policy changes. Upon receipt of a policy recommendation described in Section A.1 of this procedure, the Policy Chair shall place the policy recommendation on the agenda of the Policy Committee before three policy meetings have elapsed.   The Policy Committee may seek or ask the Superintendent to provide information such as, but not limited to, 
      1. the specific need for the policy; 
      2. the fiscal consequences of the proposed policy; 
      3. the potential effect of the policy on the instructional program, staff, students and the community; 
      4. samples of policies on the same or similar subjects; 
      5. applicable provisions of state and/or federal law and regulations; 
      6. and the anticipated costs and benefits of implementing, enforcing and monitoring the proposed policy.
          
   3. The Policy Committee may prepare draft policies or delegate the drafting of all or individual policies to the Superintendent or designee.
       
   4. At an appropriate stage in the process, the Superintendent or his/her/their designee, on behalf of the Policy Committee and the Board, shall notify the bargaining agent for the school unit’s teachers of any proposed new educational policy or proposed modification of any existing educational policy.
       
2. Upon recommendation by the Policy Committee, the first reading of a new policy, or the revision or deletion of a current policy shall be placed on the agenda of a regular Board meeting. Board members shall receive the policy, supporting material, if appropriate, and any written recommendations in advance of the meeting date.
   
   The Policy Committee Chair will explain the proposed policy or policy change. The Board may discuss the substance of the policy proposal, and a vote shall be held to acknowledge the first reading of the policy. Any changes to the policy agreed to by consensus or by vote on a motion to amend shall be made prior to the second reading.
    
3. The Policy Committee shall conduct a review of any policy approved at first reading before it proceeds to a second reading by the Board. Following its review, the Policy Committee shall make a recommendation to place the policy on the agenda of a regular Board meeting for further consideration. 
    
4. At a subsequent regular meeting, the policy shall be placed on the agenda for second reading and action. Amendments may be introduced and acted upon. If a main motion to approve the policy is not passed at such a meeting by a majority vote of Board members present and voting, the process for that policy is ended unless the Board, by vote, takes action for further consideration of the policy or otherwise dispose of the policy (e.g., refer it back to the Policy Committee for further research).
    
5. The Superintendent or his/her/their designee will be responsible for making new and revised policies available to board members, school unit personnel, students and the public by sending copies to the schools, updating the school unit's website and/or other appropriate means as soon as practicable following adoption.
    

Legal Reference:
26 MRSA § 965(1)(C)

Cross References:
BG - School Board Policy Process
BEDB - Agenda
CHD - Administration in the Absence of Policy

Adopted: 06/01/09
Revised: 01/23/17
Reviewed: 01/10/23
Revised: 03/03/25