From proposal to policy: the inner workings of the SMMUSD Board of Education
Kira Bretsky, Staff Writer
With Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s full return to in-person school, subjects like vaccine mandates have become more apparent. Students, parents and teachers alike have raised these questions to the SMMUSD Board of Education with seemingly minimal responses, but board member Jennifer Smith says that potential COVID-19 vaccine mandates likely won’t be put into action during the 2021-2022 school year.
“The governor has put an order forth for the health department of the state to create a mandate, and I think that that is the best way to create the best public health within the state and within the district. If it happens in the middle of the year, it probably wouldn’t be until the following year when you start having proof of those vaccinations when you enter school,” Smith said.
Step one
Once a potential policy is brought to the attention of the board, meetings review its relevance and future effectiveness. Designated Board officials then have the opportunity to collect data, conduct surveys and accumulate any other information used to communicate the context of the proposal to the board.
Step two
At a public meeting, the Board members discuss the potential policy. They consider how it could affect the District’s student body and staff, as well as the schools’ neighboring communities. Other topics include financial implications and “impact on governance,” according to the Board’s Policy Development and Adoption Process. Board members or the superintendent may also consult a lawyer to evaluate the proposal.
Step three
Once the proposal is fully reviewed, it is officially presented at a public Board meeting. If needed, revisions can be made to the draft before it is presented again. An entire, consistent proposal must be read twice at two separate meetings before the board can vote.
A proposal must receive a passing vote, at least four out of seven Board members, in order to be constituted as an official policy.
