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Board reviews school-closing policy; agrees superintendent should inform board rather than president alone
Summary
Board members agreed to revise Policy 3031 on school closings so the superintendent will “inform the board” rather than specifically contacting the board president first. The change was framed as a clarification of practice for inclement-weather decisions; the item will return for final approval.
Madison — The school board conducted a second review of policy 3031 (school closings and inclement weather) and reached informal consensus to revise language so that the superintendent will “inform the board” rather than specifically contacting only the board president before public notification.
The proposed change removes a reference to contacting the board president as the required step and replaces it with broader language that staff said better reflects current practice for weather-related closures. ‘‘The proposed revision would be the superintendent will inform the board,’’ a staff presenter summarized during the discussion.
Board members discussed the practical difference between being notified and being the decisionmaker. Several members emphasized the policy should make clear the board does not make closing decisions: that authority rests with the superintendent. One board member said the policy should reflect that the board will be notified, not that the board or its president decides.
The change was characterized by participants as non-substantive for the purposes of the board’s policy-review rules; staff said the red line will be updated and the policy will come back to the regular meeting for a vote. No public comment was taken during this open workshop session.
The policy committee will present the updated redline to the full board at its next regular meeting for a final vote.
