Agenda Item
3. Ready For Action: Board Policy BDF: Review of Administrative Rules ~Updated 1.10.2025
Summary: Presented by: Ms. Mariel Smith, Legal Counsel, Hall Booth Smith, PC, Attorneys at Law
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education rescind Board Policy BDF: Review of Administrative Rules and to include the language in Board Policy BDC, Policy Adoption.
Why: The Board Policy Review Committee met and conferred regarding Board Policy BDF: Review of Administrative Rules and determined the current language requires updates and recommended the proposed revisions.
Details: The purpose of the Board Policy Review Committee is to ensure the ongoing review, development, and refinement of Board policies governing the District. The Board Policy Review Committee has the goal of promoting transparency, accountability, and compliance with state, local, and federal laws while fostering a safe, equitable, and inclusive environment for all within the District. The Policy Review Committee determined the current language requires updates and recommends the proposed revisions.
Financial impact: No Financial Impact to the District
Contact: Ms. Melanie Slaton, General Counsel, Hall Booth Smith, PC. Attorneys at Law, 404.954.5000
Effective: Upon Board Approval
Status: Attorney Approval Not Required
Board Policy Manual
DeKalb County School District
Board Policy BDC: Policy Adoption Status: DRAFT -
1st Reading
Original Adopted Date: 09/11/2000 | Last Revised Date: Pending | Last Reviewed Date:
11/06/2024
Clean Version
It will be the responsibility of the DeKalb County Board of Education to enact written policies that
promote the efficient and effective governance of the District.
Development of appropriate policies is a cooperative process involving the Superintendent and the
Board. Either the Board or the Superintendent may identify the need for a new or revised policy.
Once a need is identified, the Superintendent or designee will conduct any necessary research,
consult with others as the Superintendent deems appropriate, and prepare a preliminary draft of
the proposed policy or revision. The preliminary draft will be submitted to all Board members.
Proposed policies or revisions will be presented for first reading at one monthly work session or
business meeting and for action at the next months or a later work session or business meeting.
Following first reading, the policy proposal will be posted online in a manner that allows parents,
students, staff, and community members to submit written comments. All comments submitted by
the specified deadline will be distributed to Board members in advance of the meeting at which the
vote for action is scheduled to be taken.
Board members may offer proposed revisions to a draft policy proposal at any time prior to Board
action. Preferably those proposed revisions would be expressed or communicated during the
period of public comment. Once the proposed revisions have been presented to the Board for
approval, amendments receiving a majority vote of Board members present will be incorporated
into the policy. The Board may, but is not required to, postpone action on a policy proposal if
extensive changes have been made. New and revised policies become effective immediately upon
adoption unless the Board specifies a different effective date. New and revised policies are not
retroactive.
All new and revised policies adopted by the board will be attached to and made a part of the
minutes of the meeting at which they were adopted. Only those new and revised policies so
adopted and recorded will be regarded as official board policy.
In matters of unusual urgency, the board may expedite or otherwise alter the policy-adoption
process.
The rescission of a policy follows the same procedures as the adoption of new and revised policies.
The Online Board Policy Manual will be updated to reflect additions, revisions, and rescissions
approved by the Board.
Any Board action that appears to be in conflict with Board policy will remain valid and effective
unless the policy conflicts with law. The conflicting policy will be deemed suspended to the extent
and for such time as may be required by the action taken by the Board. However, such actions will
not otherwise constitute an amendment of these policies.
The board will conduct a comprehensive review of its policies at least once every 3-5 years.
The superintendent will develop and revise administrative regulations to implement Board policy as
the superintendent deems necessary or as directed by the board.
The board reserves the right to review administrative regulations prior to implementation.
Policy Reference Disclaimer:
These references are not intended to be part of the policy itself, nor do they indicate the basis or authority
for the board to enact this policy. Instead, they are provided as additional resources for those interested in the
subject matter of the policy.
Note: To access the policy references, CLICK HERE: State of Georgia Terms and Conditions and close the
LexisNexis tab, which will return you to the policy. Click on the links below to be taken to each specific
code. You should only have to do this one time per session.
State Description
O.C.G.A. 20-02-0059 [Effective until June 30, 2027. See note.] Rules;
regulation of face masks
O.C.G.A. 20-02-0061 Fundamental roles of local boards of education and local
school superintendents