The Clearview Public Schools division has reviewed and updated its existing policies in a motion tabled by trustee Ken Checkel and carried forward by the board unanimously in their regular board meeting on Thursday, Jan. 14.
Peter Neale, associate superintendent of business and finance of Clearview Public Schools said, "The updates were done after public meetings and consultations with our school principals and division leadership."
According to Neale earlier this year, as part of the board's continuous improvement for the school division, the trustees finished a review of the Clearview's foundation statements that include their mission, vision, and education motto, as well as the principles used in decision-making.
"As these new principles highlight the exciting direction Clearview is heading towards to provide more success for students, the previous guiding principles were no longer needed, which prompted the board to delete or amend many of the policies that held the previous policy principles," added Neale.
Section 600 of the policy handbook was reviewed to determine which should be policies under the responsibilities of the board, and which ones administrative procedures under the responsibility of the superintendent.
"This is a continuing process started in 2014 to formalize a separation between policies and administrative procedures, previously both being under the responsibilities of the board," said Neale. "All of the policies in section 600 were decided to be best reflected as administrative procedures, except for school facility closures which will continue as a policy."
In 2014 the Clearview Board of Trustees and senior administration discussed setting the 'principles and priorities' for Clearview Public Schools, which will direct the essential work of the school division over the next three years.
Superintendent Barron led the Board of Trustees through the principles and priorities brought forward from Aug. 2014 and Sept. 2014 board meetings.
In considering the items, trustees considered many previous discussions with the various communities from 2013, division leadership discussions including the 2014-15 budget consultations, conversations with school councils throughout 2015, discussions with local municipalities, and the Board of Trustees' workshop from early 2014.
The board reviewed with the superintendent the board workshop that was held on Sept. 14, 2015 to review the principles and priorities in detail, and to establish the new and exciting priorities.
"One of the priorities, 'Revisit Clearview's Foundational Statements' was completed in 2014-15 and was removed as completed," said Neale. "The Board reworded some of the principles and priorities to ensure that they reflect the direction for 2015-16, and four priorities were added to further build our successes toward student learning."
The new policy for foundation statements, which was passed on Nov. 2015 captures the broader themes for the various principles in place prior to 2014-15 and provides for a more general framework that can apply across the full spectrum of policies, strategies and directions that Clearview is heading.
"We review policies yearly and make sure they are in line with current legislation and in line with our priorities, principles and foundation statements," said Cheri Neitz, board chair and chair of the policy committee. "Last meeting started the process of cleaning up the old guiding principles and making way for the new ones."
Among the ones deleted were Policy 201, 301, 401, 501, 601, and 901 "Guiding Principles".
According to Neale, the revisions will make it easier for Clearview staff, parents and communities to understand the fundamental principles for decision making for trustees, senior leadership, and staff when determining what is best for students.
"This goes to the decisions we make every day in supporting the success of our students, and in determining the long-term strategies needed in moving Clearview Public Schools forward," added Neale. "It is exciting to be part of a process that creates a simple yet meaningful way to ensure our efforts always have students and staff first, creating a 'First Choice' school division.
Clearview's next policy meeting is set for Jan. 26 when the board will start the process of looking at the government's document, 'Guidelines for Best Practices: Creating Learning Environments that Respect Diverse Sexual Orientations, Gender Identities and Gender Expressions' including 'What's new in the School Act?'