Littleton Public Schools Policy

Policy Code    AB Policy Name The People and Their School                                  District Adoption July 2, 1984 Revised

A board of education is the legal entity for conducting a system of public education within the geographic area of a school district. The system was created by, and is governed by, state statutes. Members of a board are, therefore, state officers chosen by people of a district to represent them and the state in the legislative management of public schools.

The Board of Education has the dual responsibility for implementing statutory requirements pertaining to public education and the people’s desires for educating the community’s students. While the Board of Education has an obligation to determine and assess the people’s desires, it is understood that when the people elect delegates to represent them in the conduct of public education, they at the same time endow their representatives with the authority to exercise their best judgment in determining policies, making decisions, and approving procedures for carrying out the responsibility.

The Board of Education therefore reaffirms and declares its intent to:

       Maintain two-way communications with the people of the District. The public shall be kept informed of the progress and problems of the District, and the people shall be urged to bring their aspirations and feelings about their public schools to the attention of this body which they have chosen to represent them in the management of public education.

       Establish policies and make decisions on the basis of the District’s educational philosophy and goals. All decisions made by this Board of Education shall be made with primacy given to the purposes set forth, most crucial of which is the optimal learning of the students enrolled in our schools.

       Act as a representative body for people of the District in matters involving public education. The Board of Education recognizes that ultimate responsibility for public education rests with the state, but individual boards of education have been assigned specific authority through statute. The Board of Education shall relinquish none of this authority since it believes that decision-making control over the students’ learning should be in the hands of the local people as much as possible.