Effective bylaws and policies are at the core of successful school district governance. Maintaining bylaws and policies that reflect both local oversight and ever-changing state and federal laws is an enormous task.

Don't face this challenge alone! MASB has provided bylaw and policy development for Michigan School Districts for almost 20 years. MASB's model bylaws, policies, and administrative regulations are written expressly for Michigan educational leaders by Michigan based policy experts.

MASB's Office of Bylaw and Policy Services provides assistance to school boards, board members, and superintendents on all matters of educational and school district policy. Member districts may call for assistance in dealing with policy issues, to consult on writing new policy, or to request legal background information and model policies.

We do not believe in a "one size fits all" approach! Our office works with districts to help them develop the very best policies and bylaws to meet their local needs by retaining certain former policies that are unique to the district. Recent clients include K-12 districts as small as Mackinac Island and Republic-Michigamme, to as Large as Detroit, Flint, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Jackson and Saginaw, and intermediate districts and RESA's from Allegan to Saginaw, each with their unique needs and concerns.

The MASB Policy Service Department is available to work directly with individual districts in need of special consulting service or review of policies. Particularly with the recent passage of the Revised School Code and other legislation, districts should undertake a review of existing policies approximately every two years in light of the changes in law and the impact of recent court decisions affecting schools.

The Michigan Association of School Boards offers the only Michigan based comprehensive bylaw and policy service available to Michigan's boards of education and superintendents. MASB's model bylaws, policies, and administrative rules and regulations are expressly written for Michigan's educational leaders by Michigan-based legal and policy experts.

At the heart of our service is the award winning Michigan Comprehensive Bylaw and Policy Manual. This provides the most "bang for your buck," setting the district up with a new policy manual that combines the best thoughts of the board, district staff, and MASB policy experts. The design of the manual makes board and administrative review a simpler process that takes much less time than in the past. Other services include the award winning POWER online policy publishing program, on-site seminars, model policies on over 400 areas and topics, and at-your-service telephone, email, or FAX consulting assistance.

Visit the National School Boards Association for a searchable database of sample policies.

Click Bylaw and Policy Services for a PDF version of an informational brochure.

The MASB is your organization, and we look forward to sharing with you the enormous responsibility of educating our young people. If you have any questions about our Bylaw and Policy Services Department, please contact Dr. Bill Scharffe, Director of Bylaw and Policy Services, at (517) 327-5928-email bscharffe@masb.org or Ms. Randi Airola, Administrative Assistant at (517) 327-5931-email rairola@masb.org

Additional Pages:

• Policy Development
  
• Michigan Comprehensive Manual
  
• Policy Updating
  
• Policy Assistance
  
• Complete School Forms Collection
  
• POWER Service
  
• NEW! Online Policy Update
  

Michigan Association of School Boards, 1001 Centennial Way Suite 400, Lansing, Michigan 48917
Voice - 517.327.5900, Fax - 517.327.0775, Email - info@masb.org

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