Policies

Policy development is a dynamic ongoing process. New issues and requirements give rise to the continuing necessity to develop new policies or to revise existing ones.  

How to Use This Document Container

The Londonderry School District (SAU 12) operates according to policies established by the School  Board and State Board of Education. The Board, which represents the state and local community,  develops policies after careful deliberation, and the school administration implements them through  specific regulations and procedures. The Board then appraises the effects of its policies and makes  revisions as necessary.  

How the Document Container is Organized 

There are 12 major classifications, each bearing an alphabetic code:  

 A FOUNDATIONS AND BASIC COMMITMENTS  

 B SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE AND OPERATIONS  

 C GENERAL SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION  

 D FISCAL MANAGEMENT  

 E SUPPORT SERVICES  

 F FACILITY DEVELOPMENT  

 G PERSONNEL  

 H NEGOTIATIONS  

 I INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM  

 J STUDENTS  

 K SCHOOL-COMMUNITY RELATIONS  

 L EDUCATION AGENCY RELATIONS  

How to Find a Policy 

Consider where the policy would be filed among the 12 major classifications and select the directory for that section that most closely fits the topic you are seeking. 

About School Board Policies 

Generally, the role of a school board is to set policy and the role of the administration is to execute it.  Here is the basic distinction as set forth by the National School Boards Association:  

Policies are principles adopted by the board to chart a course of action. They tell what is wanted and may include also why and how much. They are broad enough to indicate a line of action to be taken by the administration in implementing said policies. They need  to be narrow enough to give the administration clear guidance.  

Regulations are the detailed directions developed by the administration to put policy into  practice. They tell how, by whom, where, and when things are to be done.  

As long as the administration operates within the guidelines of a general policy adopted by the School  Board, it may change administrative regulations without prior approval of the Board except in those  areas in which the Board is legally required to act or has specifically asked that a particular regulation be  given prior Board approval. However, only the Board may adopt new policies or revise old ones.  

Order of Precedence 

School Board policies and administrative regulations must be read and interpreted in the light of New  Hampshire law and state regulations. Wherever inconsistencies of interpretation arise, the law and state  regulations prevail.