1 / 32

There’s no crying in policymaking

There’s no crying in policymaking. Presented by: Heidi Maynard, Director of WSSDA Policy and Legal Services and Denise Fitch, WSSDA Policy Consultant. Why all the crying?.

decima
Download Presentation

There’s no crying in policymaking

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. There’s no crying in policymaking Presented by: Heidi Maynard, Director of WSSDA Policy and Legal Services and Denise Fitch, WSSDA Policy Consultant

  2. Why all the crying? • Believe it or not, most people (board members, supt. staff, school attorneys) find policy work B-O-R-I-N-G, tedious, and exceptionally annoying. • It also happens to be time-consuming, expensive and a drain on administrative resources.

  3. So why do it? Because policy is the process by which you govern your district. Policy impacts… • Safety • The learning environment • Relationships • Risk management • Litigation • Your district’s liability insurance rates (in some cases) • SAO Audits • OSPI Consolidated Program Review

  4. District policies address:

  5. Part One: The WSSDA Model Policy Manual

  6. Goal Statement: WSSDA leads in policy development to promote safe, secure and respectful learning environments for all children.

  7. WSSDA Model Policy Manual: The WSSDA Model Policy Manual currently contains: • 413 policies and procedures(268 policies/145 procedures) Six Series: • 1000 – The Board of Directors • 2000 – Instruction • 3000 – Students • 4000 – Community Relations • 5000 – Personnel • 6000 – Management Support

  8. …And it’s always evolving… 2013 Year-to-date

  9. How we classify policies:

  10. Reasons for changes/updates: • New state or federal law or WACs, or changes to same • Issues raised by districts • Litigation trends • Legislative charge to WSSDA • Policy workgroup/task force reports • Best practices • Further clarification based on feedback after implementation, if effect is broad enough

  11. How we create or revise policy: Four Phases: Defining the issue/building a policy review team Vetting Editing Publication

  12. Part Two: WSSDA Policy Services

  13. Three services… helping districts translate law into action.

  14. 1. Policy and Legal News • Currently issued bi-monthly and by electronic subscription only • Transitioning to quarterly issues in 2014 • Includes: • list of all updated policies in order of classification (essential; priority; discretionary) • “marked-up” documents attached with each issue • articles explaining policy changes • summaries of legal cases (plus EEOC and PERC rulings, US DOE Dear Colleague letters) that could impact education policy

  15. 2. Model Policies Online • Works with Policy and Legal News to keep districts up-to-date. • Allows districts to download PDF and Word versions of each policy and procedure, as needed. • Provides enhanced search capabilities and hyperlinked legal authority and resources.

  16. 3. Policy Consulting Services Year-to-date 2013: • Spokane • Bellingham • Selah • Meridian • Hood Canal • Washougal • College Place • Kent • Camas • Wahluke • Lind-Ritzville • Mount Baker • Nespelem Slated for 2014: • Evergreen • Lynden • Highline

  17. Level I: Policy Manual Audit • Recommended for districts that want to proceed with full policy manual review on their own. • Generally takes about a month. • WSSDA’s policy consultant reviews your district’s policy manual to check for legal compliance, missing policies, policies that should be deleted and those that should be updated. • Includes checking the organization and format of your manual. • Includes a spreadsheet report by the WSSDA Policy Consultant with recommendations for future policy work. • Result is a roadmap for a full policy manual review.

  18. Level II: Full Service Policy Manual Revision • Recommended for districts whose policy manual has not been updated in the past five years, is incomplete or inconsistent with district practice and/or goals. • Process takes about a year. • WSSDA’s policy consultant reviews each policy and procedure, makes recommendations, incorporates customized language as requested by the district, and prepares the policies for board review and adoption. • Includes on-site visit to your district and board presentation, and recommendations for maintenance. • Result is a district policy manual that is completely current.

  19. #1 Most Common Misconception “WSSDA is just telling districts what to do.” • WSSDA Model Policy: • Ideal District Policy: In other words…WSSDA model policies are meant to be customized.

  20. Effective Policymaking: Policies can and should reflect what’s important to your community. Effective policy provides clarity for all district employees and students and leads to consistent practices Effective policy leads to consistent and fair enforcement. Often issues, especially controversial ones, can be dealt with preemptively instead of after-the-fact. Policy work is challenging because responsibility is often delegated across several departments and administrators who have different areas of expertise and skill levels.

  21. Effective Policymaking: Policy writing isn’t for everyone…it’s different. Policy isn’t just repeating legal requirements. It requires best practices language as well. When questions arise, don’t hesitate to work with district legal counsel. Sometimes policymaking requires political courage. Don’t forget follow-up: implement communication, training and accountability for your new policies.

  22. Part Three: The District Policy Manual Review

  23. What suits your district? Traditional Policy Manual: • Designed for K-12 districts. • Organized into 6-series like the WSSDA Model Policy Manual. If you’re still what we call “a niner” (9000 series manual) we will convert you. • Based on WSSDA model policies and procedures • Uses WSSDA numbering and format. • Formatted in Word for convenient updating and review.

  24. What suits your district? Customized Policy Manual: • Designed to meet individualized needs such as non-high, K-8 or those districts that are converting from K-8 to K-12. • Order of series review/specific content can be customized to meet district needs/deadlines.

  25. Step One District contacts WSSDA: • Districts can contact WSSDA at any time to request a policy manual review. • At that time, WSSDA will assist district in determining extent of review needed. • WSSDA will refer request to the policy consultant who will contact the district for further discussion.

  26. Step Two Consultant contacts district: • WSSDA consultant will contact the district superintendent or designee to finalize details of the review. • District provides consultant electronic access in Word to all current district policies and procedures. • Consultant performs initial review of district policies to determine extent of the work to be performed. • Consultant works with district to develop timeline for project completion.

  27. Step Three Contracting: • WSSDA provides a one-year contract to district for the full policy manual review. If the district exceeds the one year time period for the review, the district will need to enter into an amended contract with WSSDA.

  28. Step Four Review and Update: • WSSDA consultant conducts district site visit to meet the policy review team. • Consultant completes and submits revised policies to district for review according to timeline. • First reading: • Some boards hold a “work session” to review the policies and make the changes during that time as a first reading. • Others have the consultant sit in on a review session with their Policy Review Committee and review the changes series by series. • Second reading and Adoption: • Policies are polished and require minimal if any changes.

  29. Step Five Final updates: • Consultant submits update reports including all new policies and procedures issued by WSSDA while the district was undergoing its full policy manual review. • Consultant is available to answer any questions and provide support throughout the contract. • Upon final adoption, district has a completely updated policy manual and is trained as to how to maintain it.

  30. Tips for Success • Make sure the timing is right for the district. The process will last from 12-18 monthsand will require board meeting time for review. • Make sure the team is right. You need a ‘policy wonk’ on board. • On the other hand, don’t let the ‘policy wonk’ hijack the whole process. This is about collaboration. • Make sure the board is on…yes, board. • Make sure district contract or in house counsel is part of the team.

  31. Tips for Success • Make sure you have buy-in from the entire staff. At some point, most will play a role in the review process. • Rule of thumb: If your district doesn’t finish in 18 months, it risks never finishing. • Once it’s done, implement a maintenance system using Policy and Legal Newsand Model Policy Online. • Schedule a regular review of each series. • Remember to train new employeesin the maintenance system.

  32. THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING. We’d love to have your feedback. Please fill out an evaluation form before you leave.

More Related