School Board of the City of Virginia Beach
Bylaw 1-32

SCHOOL BOARD BYLAWS

Approval for Content/Sufficiency, Format for Presentation, Policy Adoption, Amendment and Suspension

A. Approval for Content/Sufficiency

When policies are submitted to the Board for consideration they shall first have been reviewed by a member of the Administration designated by the Superintendent familiar with or responsible for the aspect of school operations affected by the policy. In the event the policy is recommended by School Administration, the administrator reviewing the policy shall sign the policy "approved for content" and date the signature.

Before a policy is presented to the Board for adoption, it shall be submitted to Board Legal Counsel for legal review and, if Board Legal Counsel finds it is legally sufficient, Board Legal Counsel shall sign the policy as "legally sufficient" and date the signature.

By signing a policy "approved as to content," an administrator represents to the Board that the Administrator has read the policy, believes it is workable in the School Division, and the Administration recommends adoption. When Board Legal Counsel signs a policy as "legally sufficient, "Board Legal Counsel is only certifying that the policy complies with all applicable laws, policies, and regulations and is workable from a legal standpoint. Legal Counsel is not indicating approval of the content of the policy from an educational or business standpoint. Absence of one or both signatures should alert the Board to ask questions of the Superintendent or Board Legal Counsel.

B. Format for Presentation

When policy revisions are submitted to the Board for consideration, the draft presented shall show previous policy language proposed to be eliminated by strike-outs and proposed new language by underlining in order that language to be eliminated and added is clear.

C. Adoption and Amendment

Policy proposals and suggested amendments to existing policies shall be submitted to members of the School Board and to the Superintendent in writing prior to a regularly scheduled School Board meeting at which such proposed policies or amendments shall be read or discussed. A vote for adoption shall take place at the next succeeding regular meeting of the school board. A majority vote of the membership of the School Board shall be needed for the adoption or amendment/revision of a policy.

D. Suspension

Policies of the School Board shall be subject to suspension only upon a majority vote of the members of the School Board present at a meeting when previous notice of the proposed suspension has been provided in writing, or upon a unanimous vote of the Board when no such written notice has been given.

Legal Reference:

Code of Va., § 22.1?253.13:7. Standard 7. Policy manual.

Adopted by School Board: July 21, 1992
Amended by School Board: August 17, 1999
Amended by School Board: February 20, 2001