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School board adopts BHBA visitation policy requiring notification before uninvited school visits
Summary
The City School Board voted to adopt policy BHBA, which requires board members to notify the superintendent by noon on the preceding school day before any uninvited visit and directs board members to contact the superintendent with concerns after visits; the policy passed with one no vote and one abstention.
The City School Board on Sept. 2 voted to adopt policy BHBA, the board member school‑visitation policy, which sets notice and conduct expectations for board members who visit schools. Doctor Midgett presented the policy and the board approved it following discussion and a roll‑call vote.
Doctor Midgett, a governance committee member, said the draft policy was prepared with help from an outside law firm and modeled on practices from other school divisions. “Board members may visit every school throughout the year when invited for regular programs and special events or when [the] board member has time available,” Midgett said, and described a requirement that, "Prior to any school visit that is not pursuant to a specific invitation, by 12PM on the school day preceding the visit, board members agree to notify the superintendent, 1, of their intent to visit the school, and 2, the purpose of the visit."
The policy requires that board members, as guests, stop first at the principal’s office on arrival and not interfere with daily operations; it explicitly restates that under policy BBAA no single board member has authority to direct disciplinary action. The policy also allows an emergency waiver to the notice requirement on an individual basis by the board chair, vice chair, or superintendent.
Board members asked how the policy applies to events and to situations when they attend schools as parents or volunteers. Doctor Midgett clarified that school‑wide events such as PTO nights and invited ceremonies are not subject to the notice requirement and that attendance as a parent is treated separately from board visitation. One board member said she typically reads to elementary classes and asked whether she should pre‑notify principals; Midgett replied that advance scheduling with the principal is sufficient and that staff can be notified of routine visits in advance.
During the discussion some members questioned the need for 24‑hour advance notice for the range of informal visits. One board member said the 24‑hour requirement “could be ... an inconvenience” and argued for flexibility when members have short windows to visit.
A motion to adopt BHBA was moved by Missus Larning and seconded by Doctor Farmer. The clerk called the roll: Mister Baron — yes; Mister Alleyne — yes; Missus Lawrie — yes; Mister Connor — yes; Doctor Gupta (chair) — yes; Mister DePaul — no; Mister Jalil — abstain; Doctor Farmer — yes; Mister Poe — yes. The motion passed (yes 7, no 1, abstain 1). The policy becomes part of board governance policies and staff were asked to notify principals about scheduled board visitation patterns.
Board members and staff agreed to provide principals with schedules of planned visits where practicable and to rely on the emergency waiver in time‑sensitive safety situations.
