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Policy Development
The new bylaws, policies and administrative rules will be a unique collection assembled by Michigan educators and attorneys, and it will be adopted only after the board makes all the decisions. The new manual will contain legal citations, footnoted reference material, a comprehensive index and a cross-referencing system. The manual uses an easy-to-understand numbering system. It allows for future updates by the district through the MASB Bylaw and Policy Update Service available to subscribing districts via the MASB ERIN page or through subscription to the Online Policy Update Service - "OPUS" that is less costly than the normal ERIN subscription.
Throughout the process, MASB policy experts will work closely with the board and administrative team. They will continue to be available after completion of the project.
After contracting for a new Michigan Comprehensive Bylaw and Policy Manual, the board provides MASB's trained team of policy experts with district information that may have policy implications via a complete questionnaire. In some cases, we may request copies of the current board bylaws, former district policies, administrative procedures, collective bargaining agreements and contracts, staff handbooks, student/parent handbooks, course catalogs, school improvement plans, student codes of conduct, recent board minutes, and any other ancillary information that the district feels significant. At the end of this comprehensive review, the district is presented with a first draft of a revised and updated Michigan Comprehensive Bylaw and Policy manual, including required and optional policies. This draft includes applicable legal references for each policy and a complete contents and indexing system. When finished with the first draft, MASB staff will confer with the administration and board of the district to discuss the new manual and to help the board formulate a review and editing process. We want each policy manual to be a "perfect fit" with the district, and will work with the board as they review the new policies, select between optional policies, and finish the review process. When the board's review is complete, MASB will provide instructions and a sample motion to rescind the previous policies and bylaws and implement the board's new manual. After the approval, MASB will provide 8 (or more, at the district's discretion) policy binders with the district's policies and rules, custom printed to the district's specifications. These books will be set up on a numerical indexing system to allow for easy updating in the future, as laws change or the district implements changes. MASB will also provide the district's new policy manual on CD-ROM for ease of maintenance.
The main benefit to the board from the policy review and update process is that their policies, procedures, and bylaws are in line with current law and court decisions, indexed, cross-referenced and cross-checked, and meet the needs and character of the district. Most districts recognize that undertaking such a process on their own would take an enormous amount of time, plus outside legal and consulting assistance. Many of our client districts started work on their own, and then opted to contract with MASB when they realized how much the process compromised the other important work of the district. The board still remains in charge of the process and is responsible for reviewing all the policies and making sure they meet the needs and requirements of the district. Trained MASB policy experts assist the board through the process, and are immediately available to answer questions or give guidance.
Our pricing INCLUDES sample administrative rules, regulations, and pertinent forms at NO ADDED COST. Billing arrangements are 65 percent of the fees up front, 35 percent on the delivery of the first draft, and a final billing for any added costs following completion of the process and delivery of the custom-bound books. Special billing arrangements can be made to carry the charge over more than one fiscal year. MASB will work with your district if specialized payment arrangements are indicated.
MASB's staff has used a variety of approaches in assisting boards and staff with revising and updating their bylaws and policies. MASB believes that there is no one, perfect way of working with all boards. Recognizing that boards and districts are different, the staff will assist the board in determining the best review approach to take in light of the board's circumstances.
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