Committee advances rules of procedure, recommends rescinding several single‑topic policies and releases two policies for public comment

The Policy & Governance Committee on May 12, 2026 voted to recommend a set of procedural updates that consolidate scattered bylaws and single‑topic policies into a single rules of procedure document and to move several related policies toward rescission or revision.

Sponsor Mrs Welsh explained the rules of procedure would centralize items commonly handled across agendas — including opening ceremonies (board prayer and Pledge of Allegiance), proclamations and certificates of recognition, contract award disclosures and cost estimates, and budget transfer procedures — so that the board does not need separate one‑line policies for each small item. "It dawned on me that it's sort of a little screwy to have this stuff randomly showing up ... when these are the things that actually are being addressed in a board meeting," Welsh said.

The committee voted to recommend the board rules of procedure to the policy sponsor for revision approval by roll call (three affirmative votes recorded). Members also recommended Policy 9260 (auditor) to the sponsor; Welsh summarized statutory requirements that the system must have an annual external financial audit and noted the board may opt to contract for performance audits under Education Article (cited in the meeting as 5‑109 and related sections).

Several policies that duplicate procedural language were recommended for rescission and release for public comment because their content will be incorporated into the rules of procedure: Policy 3186 (cost estimates for board resolutions), Policy 8344.3 (opening of meeting with prayer), Policy 8384 (certificates of recognition), and Policy 9305 (proclamations). Roll calls recorded three affirmatives on each rescission recommendation. The committee then voted to release Policy 8301 (student appeals and hearings) and Policy 8302 (appeals for certificated staff) for public comment.

Next steps: The committee recommended that the sponsor refine the rules of procedure and return revised language; rescinded policies will be released for public comment where noted. Staff noted they will prepare cost and implementation details when relevant and link audit results publicly (staff agreed to add a website posting detail to Policy 9260).

Votes: Committee recommended rules of procedure and Policy 9260 for sponsor revision approval (each 3–0). The committee recommended rescission and public comment release for Policies 3186, 8344.3, 8384, 9305 (each 3–0) and released Policies 8301/8302 for public comment (3–0).