Board debates ISBA model-policy adoption and vendor options, leans toward paid 'fresh-start' rewrite

Trustees and administrators spent extensive time reviewing options to update the district policy manual using ISBA model policy materials and an associated vendor platform.

Administration outlined three main options: continue the current ISBA subscription (roughly $1,000/year to receive updates), purchase a downloadable manual or limited customization (a one-time fresh-start option presented at about $4,000), or contract for a higher level of ISBA engagement ($7,000) that includes additional research and customization. Trustees discussed trade-offs including staff time, attorney review, numbering changes, and which local policies should be retained (for example, the district’s insurance-committee language). Several trustees favored a phased approach that keeps local policies standing while gradually adopting ISBA model sections and suggested rotating small trustee subgroups to review sections.

Board members also discussed integration with meeting-management and policy-hosting platforms. Administration demonstrated the potential efficiency of Simbly’s policy warehouse (the ISBA/Assembly partner) versus BoardDocs/Diligent; advantages cited included drag-and-drop adoption, searchable cross-district policy comparisons and easier agenda insertion. Trustees asked about procurement timing, multi-year licensing, and whether adoption of ISBA materials would legally overwrite older conflicting policies (administration said a transitional policy approach could specify that newer adopted policies supersede earlier local language).

There was no final contract executed at this meeting, but trustees expressed consensus to proceed with ISBA model policy adoption and to pursue the moderate-level engagement (the fresh-start/manual option) for further work and cost estimates. Administration will return with more precise cost and timeline proposals.