Board Policy Review

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Board Policy Review

One of the Olympia School Board's responsibilities is to establish policies, which are essentially the governing documents by which the Olympia School District operates. Board-approved policies are based on laws and regulations. Procedures are developed by administrative staff to implement Board-adopted policies.

  

The Olympia School Board welcomes feedback about policies that are currently being reviewed by the Citizen's Advisory Committee (CAC) - Policy Review. The Advisory Committee is made up of students, family members, staff and community members who are leading the work of the district policy review in preparation for adoption by the school board. 

 

 

 

Current policies before the board, or policy development work, include:

 

  • Equity Policy Development

  • Essential Policies: Presented for first reading on August 3, 2023; Feedback on policies was accepted from September 7-17, 2023.

  • 1000 Series: Presented for first reading on July 27, 2023; community feedback accepted October 16-26, 2023. Second reading and board approval on February 8, 2024.

  • 3000 Series: Presented for first reading on September 7, 2023. Community feedback accepted February 20-March 1, 2024.

  • 4000 Series: Presented for first reading on September 5, 2024.

  • 5000 Series: Presented for first reading on August 31, 2023; Community feedback accepted February 20-March 1, 2024.

  • 6000 Series: Presented for first reading on August 1, 2024.

 

For more information about this Citizens Advisory Committee, view the CAC Board Policy Review webpage, which includes a link to the OSD Citizens Advisory Committee Charter – Policy. The Olympia School Board approved the charter on March 9, 2023.

 

Board welcomes input on policy review process

The board welcomes and invites student, staff and community input during the policy review process.


  • The public is welcome to comment about policies or other topics of interest during Olympia School Board meetings. Time is set aside for public comment near the start of open board meetings, and those who wish to speak are asked to sign in on a form placed near the entrance to each meeting. See a list of 2023-24 board meetings. Learn more about the protocol for speaking during public board meetings. 

  • Students, staff and the community are welcome to email comments or questions about the policies being reviewed to a district email address especially created for this current board policy review process. The following email is monitored daily, and questions will be answered in the order they are received: [email protected]

  • Contact Nicole Gonzalez, executive assistant to the Olympia School District Superintendent, at 360-596-6114.

  • Email or call Olympia School Board members directly. Contact information for board members, including their phone numbers and email addresses, is featured with their photos on the Board of Directors Web page.


This Web page will be updated regularly to inform the community about what policies are currently being reviewed by the Olympia School Board. The district's compilation of policies is divided into "series," including:


  • 1000 series: Board of Directors

  • 2000 series: Instruction

  • 3000 series: Students

  • 4000 series: Community Relations

  • 5000 series: Personnel

  • 6000 series: Management Support


View a compilation of board policies and procedures  


What policies have already come before the board, and which ones are currently before the board for review?

In fall 2017, the Olympia School Board reviewed and approved revisions to the Policy 1000 series, which addresses the work of the Board of Directors. 


Since 2017, the Board has been reviewing various policies throughout the series listed above. Policy revisions are based on a variety of input from sources including WSSDA representatives, school district personnel and the school district's legal counsel.

We thank you for your interest in the board's policy review process. If you have any questions or comments about the policies listed above, please send them to the email especially designated for this policy review process: [email protected]


How does the board policy review work?

Each policy requires a minimum of two readings (reviews) by the Olympia School Board before it can be considered for approval. Typically, policies come before the school board for a "first reading," or a first review, at a public board meeting. The same policies typically return for a second reading, followed by possible board action, at the next regularly scheduled school board meeting. However, if there is more time needed for discussion or questions about a specific policy, the second reading may be postponed to a future meeting.