How big is the policy book?

In a discussion about the 12th grade humanities class at The Center School, commenter parent wrote:
"They've got so many procedures and policies, it's impossible to follow them." I have heard Director Martin-Morris describe them as a long shelf stuffed with binders. That's not accurate.

I hear this sort of thing all the time. I also observe the reaction I get from people when my knowledge of School Board policies is displayed. They are generally surprised. That's not appropriate.

Here's the truth: You could probably read all of the policies in a single sitting in a single afternoon.

There aren't that many policies and most of them are pretty brief. You, too, could become a policy expert between school and dinner. Here they are.

You will find that most of them are meaningless and un-enforceable mush. Not's a shame, but not surprising.

What to know what surprises me? The fact that the board and the superintendent appear ignorant of the policies. I'm surprised that so few members of the district leadership appear to know the policies - including the policies that govern their daily work.

There doesn't appear to be anyone with the duty of enforcing the policies. It's the Board's job, but they refuse to do it. They try to delegate that work to the superintendent but a large number of the policies govern the superintendent, and he can't very well police himself, can he? Not only is that bad governance and bad management, it's absurd.