Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Discovering The Relationship Between The Law and Your School
Discovering The Relationship Between The Law and Your School
Raymond Barton
2/28/2020
Relationship between the Law and Your School 2
There is a lot that goes into running a school. The primary purpose of school is to provide
a safe place where students are taught to become successful and can contribute to society. To
accomplish this goal it is imperative to create policies, bylaws, and procedures that meet these
goals; this is the job of the school board. As an educational leader, you must have a firm
understanding of the board policies and rules that are in place. You must understand the
expectations that have been created for your staff and student’s professional and a principal must
have intimate knowledge of the procedures that will allow your students and staff to reach those
expectations.
The Bagdad School District policy manual covers twelve sections (BUSD, 2010) this
paper will look at three main sets of policies; these policies are personnel, instructional
programs, and to students. The paper will focus on how school leadership enforces the different
district, and site-based policies. As well as the legal consequences of not implementing the
procedures. Lastly, this paper will look at how leadership enacts policies while ensuring the
school's vision.
The role of the principal in enforcing school, teacher, and student-related policies
The principal's role is to ensure that schools are functioning at the highest level and all of
the staff and students are abiding by the procedures set forth by the Governing Board and
district. The principal's power comes from the responsibilities passed down from the
Superintendent. This starts with the personnel of the school. Section G of the Bagdad Unified
Relationship between the Law and Your School 3
School District policy manual (2010) outlines the handling of personnel. The process of
recruiting staff members is the responsibility of the Superintendent, he/she may involve other
staff members as needed. Since the principal is in charge of the school they are the ones that
inform the Superintendent of staffing needs, as well as finding the best qualified candidates. The
site principal is also responsible for providing professional development to improve performance
Principals are in charge of instruction and ensuring that instruction meets district goals.
BUSD instructional goals are provide individualize learning programs in order for each student
to be successful. Protect the legal rights of students. Create a learning environment that provides
for positive engagement. Develop student’s personal and civic responsibility through meaningful
experiences as school citizens. Deal with student discipline matters in a fair and consistent
manner. Provide for the safety, health, and welfare of students. Promote regular attendance and
With students, the primary job of the principle is to enforce site-based policies, and these
policies are found in the student handbook. These procedures provided students and parents a
guideline for the student responsibilities. Each student is given the Student Procedures Handbook
on the second day of the school year teachers go through every page of the handbook, as well as
the student discipline guide, with the students. The students then sign a paper saying they have
gone over both books and agree to abide by the policies creating a binding contract between the
student and the school. The principal's role, in this case, is to ensure that all procedures are
followed. The significant areas of enforcement are attendance, tardiness, dress code, enforcement
There are consequences for failing to follow the procedure of the district and site, and it
is the job of the educational leader to deliver those consequences. BUSD policy manual (2010)
section GBEB discusses employee misconduct. It lays out what the consequences to employees
who violate policies will be. Violations of policy may result in anything from a verbal warning
Conduct/Discipline Regulation GBK discuss the due process procedures for employee conduct
and discipline (BUSD, 2016). The procedures for discipline for certified staff falls under Arizona
State Statute (A.R.S.) 15-341 (BUSD, 2010). Violations under A.R.S. 15-341 will become part
of the personnel record (BUSD, 2010). The first step is for the principal to notify the staff
member of their violation by holding a meeting between the principal and employee (BUSD,
2010). The second step is for the principal to conduct an informal discipline hearing. In the
conference, the principal will discuss the violation and explain what evidence they have to
support the offense the employee is being accused of (BUSD, 2010). The third step will be a
formal written communication to the employee of the decision made (BUSD, 2010). The final
step, the employee's right to appeal if they do not agree with the decision. The school board will
The principal is responsible for enforcing any violations to the Student Procedures
Handbook. Students also have the right to due process (BUSD, 2019). Violation of the
procedures are documented, and the appropriate consequences are given. For any disciplinary
action, a parent contact is required (BUSD, 2019), whether the teacher or principal does it. Minor
incidents that result in detentions the communication may be in the form of e-mail. If the
occurrence is more severe, the parents/guarding will be called, and a meeting will be set up to
discuss the punishment (BUSD, 2019). All students have a right to appeal decisions made by the
Relationship between the Law and Your School 5
principal. BUSD policy manual (2010) JIA covers appeals. Initial appeals can be made to the
Superintendent. Decisions made by the Superintendent can be appealed to the school board; the
Bagdad High/Middle school's mission statement is “Challenge and empower all students
for success (BUSD, 2019). The principal works closely with the Superintendent and the school
board to make sure the policies of the board reflect the mission of the school. The curriculum
policies implemented at the site level must have the approval of the school board BUSD, 2010).
The creating of new curriculum or revising of existing ones are performed by committees made
up of subject matter teachers and the principal. Allowing the school to develop new policies and
regulations in this manner supports the overall goals and visions of the district to ensure the
References
services/school-district-policy-manuals-online/