INTRODUCTION TO POLICY MANUAL   The Policy Manual for the Richmond School District is in the process of being revised.  This is a long process that involves examination of each policy individually to determine if it is still relevant, needs updating, could be combined with another policy for clarity and so on.   As the Policy Manual is revised it will be transformed into a Policy and Information Portal that also contains links to other relevant documents.  A more consistent use of the terms "policy," "regulation" and "guideline" is also being introduced.   Changes will be made only to this electronic version.  All paper versions of the Policy Manual should be discarded.   The following introduction to the new form of the Policy and Information Portal currently applies only to Sections 100, 200 and 300.  Other sections are in various stages of review. Many policies have been revised as described below but no other sections are entirely complete as of December, 2009. Introduction to the Contents of the Document   This document provides a framework of guiding values, overall purposes, specific goals and required actions that complement the School Act and provincial regulations.  It contains policies and regulations that are developed and maintained by the Board of Education for School District No. 38 (Richmond) to provide direction to the staff of the school district. In addition, the document contains administrative guidelines developed and maintained by the Superintendent of Schools where necessary to provide procedures and expectations that complement the policies and regulations prescribed by the Board.  These are associated with the relevant policy for convenient reference.   Definition of Terms The Board refers to the elected Board of Education for School District No. 38 (Richmond), which is the governing body of the school district and is responsible for the development of policy statements and regulations. The District refers to the staff employed by the Board under the direction of the Superintendent of Schools, who is authorized by the Board to manage the operation of the school district. The Superintendent refers to the Superintendent of Schools, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the District, responsible for enacting the policy directions provided by the Board. The term parent shall be taken to refer to either a natural parent or a legal guardian as appropriate wherever it appears in a policy, regulation or administrative guideline. Policies define guiding values, overall purposes and specific goals.  They indicate, as directly and concisely as possible, what the Board wants and why. Regulations define required actions. They indicate how and by whom the Board requires things to be done. Administrative guidelines are developed and maintained by the Superintendent to complement policies and regulations developed by the Board by providing additional or more detailed procedures and expectations when that is deemed necessary by either the Superintendent or the Board. Hot links to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)   While the Policies for School District 38 (Richmond) are under revision, the current ones apply and are useful as a reference point for parents, staff and students.  At times the index of policies does not immediately lead to answering the question, “What’s the policy on . . ?”  Below are some links to FAQs that may help you locate what you’re looking for quickly.   What’s the Policy on:                                                                                                                                                Topic  Policy Number   Alcohol Use   Policy 502.4-R Policy 402.11-R Policy 1004.1-R Attendance   Policy 501.1 Policy 501.1-R Policy 501.1-G Bullying   Policy 502.1.1   Budget   Policy 801 Policy 801-R Policy 801-G Communicable diseases   Policy 504.2 Commercialism   Policy 1004.8 Policy 1004.8-R   Complaints and Appeals (Students and Parents) Complaints and Appeals (Staff) Policy 103 Policy 103 B Communications and Information Services - Acceptable Use Policy 415 Policy 415-R Policy 415-G Cross Boundary Transfers   Policy 501.8-R Policy 501.8-G Curriculum Development Policy 602.14.1-G Discrimination Policy 502.1.1   Donations to Schools Policy 1004.9 Policy 1004.9-R Dress Code   Policy 502.1.1 Policy 502.1.2   Drug Use   Policy 502.4-R Policy 502.1.1 Policy 402.12 Policy 402.12-R    Energy Conservation Policy 602.14.1-G Environmental Issues   Policy 602.14.1 Policy 602.14.1-R Policy 602.14.1-G Emergencies   Policy 504.9 Policy 504.9-R General Conduct   Policy 502.1 Policy 502.1.1-R   Grounds Greening Policy 602.14.1-G Homework   Policy 603.3 Policy 603.3-R Policy 603.3-G Inclusion   Policy 102 Injury at School   Policy 504.3 Policy 504.3-R Leadership (Environmental) Policy 602.14.1-G Leaves of Absence   Policy 410 Policy 404.2 Policy 404 Policy 404.4 Money raised for Schools   Policy 802.9 Policy 802.9-R Policy 802.9-G Multiculturalism   Policy 502.1.1   Non Resident Students   Policy 501.6 International Students   Policy 501.7 Outdoor Education   Policy 603.2 Parent Advisory Councils   Policy 1002.4 Policy 1002.4-R Racism   Policy 502.1.1   Registration for Students Policy 501.8 Policy 501.8-R Policy 501.8-G Policy 501.2-R Rentals   Policy 1004.1 Policy 1004.1-R Policy 1004.4-G Reports on Student Progress (Report Cards)   Policy 605.1 Safety   Policy 502 Policy 504 Policy 504.10-R   Smoking Policy 502.4-R Policy 502.1.1 Policy 402.11 Policy 402.11-R Student Fees   Policy 802 Policy 802-R Policy 802-G Student Records   Policy 505.1 Summer School   Policy 602.5 Policy 602.5-R Suspensions   Policy 502 Policy 502.2 Policy 502.2-R Sustainable Purchasing Policy 602.14.1-G Sustainable Transportation Policy 602.14.1-G Transportation   Policy 702 Policy 702-R Policy 702.7 Vandalism   Policy 903.4 Policy 903.4-R Volunteering in Schools Volunteering in Schools Volunteering in Schools Policy 1008-G Policy 1008 Policy 1008-R Waste Management Policy 602.14.1-G Water Conservation Policy 602.14.1-G Weapons   Policy 502.3 Policy 502.3-R