See policies below
STUDENT PERSONNEL
Series 500
Policy Title: Student Government Code No. 504.1
The student council provides for student activities, serves as a training experience for student leaders, promotes the common good, gives students a share in the management of the school, develops high ideals of personal conduct, acts as a clearinghouse for student activities, seeks to interest students in school district affairs, and helps solve problems that may arise. Members of the council are student representatives who have direct access to the administration.
The principal, in conjunction with the students and licensed employees, will set forth the guidelines for the student government’s elections, operations, and other elements of the government.
Approved: March 25, 2003
Reviewed: July 16, 2019
Revised:
Legal Reference: Iowa Code § 279.8
Cross Reference: 502 Student Rights and Responsibilities; 504 Student Activities
STUDENT PERSONNEL
Series 500
Policy Title: Student Organizations Code No. 504.2
Secondary school student-initiated, non-curriculum-related groups, and student curriculum-related groups, upon receiving permission from the principal, may use school facilities for group meetings during non-instructional time.
Non-instructional time will mean any time before the first period of the day and after the last period of the day in which any student attends class. Meetings will not interfere with the orderly conduct of the education program or other school district operations. It is within the discretion of the principal to determine whether the meetings will interfere with the orderly conduct of the education program or other school district operations. Activities relating to and part of the education program will have priority over the activities of another organization.
Curriculum-Related Organizations
It will also be the responsibility of the principal to determine whether a student group is curriculum-related. One or more of the following questions will be answered affirmatively if the group is curriculum-related:
Secondary school curriculum-related student organizations may use the School District facilities for meetings and other purposes before and after the instructional school day. Employees are assigned to monitor approved meetings and may interact with curriculum-related organizations.
Non-curriculum-Related Organizations
Student-initiated, non-curriculum-related organizations are provided access to meeting space and school district facilities.
Only enrolled students may attend and participate in meetings of non-curriculum-related groups. Such attendance is strictly voluntary and student-initiated. As a means of determining whether a student’s attendance is voluntary, the principal may require parental consent for the student to attend the meetings.
Employees will be assigned to monitor approved meetings. Employees will not participate in the meeting or assist in planning, criticizing, or encouraging attendance. Only students may be involved in and attend the non-curriculum group’s meetings.
It is the responsibility of the Superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.
Approved: March 25, 2003
Reviewed: July 16, 2019
Revised: July 16, 2019
Legal Reference: Westside Community Board of Education v. Mergens, 496 U.S. 226 (1990); Bender v. Williamsport Area Community School District, 741 F.2d 538 (3d Cir. 1984), vacated and remanded on other grounds, 475 U.S. 534 (1986); 20 U.S.C. §§ 4071-4074; Iowa Code §§ 287.1-.3; 297.9.
Cross Reference: 502 Student Rights and Responsibilities; 504 Student Activities
STUDENT PERSONNEL
Series 500
Policy Title: Student Publications Code No. 504.3
Students may produce official school publications as part of the curriculum under the supervision of a faculty advisor and the principal. Official school publications include material produced in the journalism, newspaper, yearbook, or writing classes and distributed to the student body either free or for a fee.
Any expression made by the students, including student expression in official school publications, is not an expression of official school policy. The School District, the Board, and the employees or officials are not liable in any civil or criminal action for any student expression made or published by students unless the employees or officials have interfered with or altered the content of the student speech or expression. The liability, if any, is only to the extent of the interference or alteration of the speech or expression.
Official school publications are free from prior restraint by employees or officials except as provided by law. A faculty advisor will supervise student writers to maintain professional standards of English and journalism and to comply with the law including, but not limited to, the restrictions against unlawful speech. The production of official school publications is guided by the law and by the ethical standards adopted by professional associations or societies of journalism.
Persons, other than students, who believe they have been aggrieved by student expression in a student-produced official school publication will follow the grievance procedure outlined in board policy 214.1. Students who believe their freedom of expression in a student-produced official school publication has been restricted will follow the grievance procedure outlined in board policy 502.6.
The Superintendent is responsible for developing a student publications code. This code will include, but not be limited to, reasonable rules including time, place, and manner of restrictions. The Superintendent will also be responsible for distributing this policy and the student publications code to the students and their parents.
Approved: September 17, 1991
Reviewed: July 16, 2019
Revised: March 25, 2003
Legal Reference: Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, 484 U.S. 260 (1988); Bystrom v. Fridley High School, 822 F.2d 747 (8th Cir. 1987); Iowa Code § 280.22.
Cross Reference: 307 Communication Channels; 502 Student Rights and Responsibilities; 504 Student Activities; 903.5 Distribution of Materials
STUDENT PERSONNEL
Series 500
Administrative Regulation: Student Publications Code Code No. 504.3R1
An “official school publication” is material produced by students in the journalism, newspaper, yearbook, or writing classes and distributed to students either free or for a fee.
Faculty advisors will supervise student writers to maintain professional standards of English and journalism and to comply with the law including, but not limited to, the restrictions against unlawful speech.
Student expression in an official school publication will not be deemed to be an expression of the school district. The school district, the board, and the employees or officials are not liable in any civil or criminal action for any student expression made or published by students unless the employees or officials have interfered with or altered the content of the student expression. The liability, if any, is only to the extent of interference or alteration of the speech or expression.
Approved: March 25, 2004
Reviewed: July 16, 2019
Revised:
Legal Reference:
STUDENT PERSONNEL
Series 500
Policy Title: Student Performances Code No. 504.4
Students, as part of the educational program, may participate in contests or other public and private events approved by the Superintendent that will be of benefit to the student and the education program. Performance at such events is a privilege.
Students, who perform at such events, serve as ambassadors of the School District and must conduct themselves in the same manner as required in the regular school day. Students who fail to abide by this policy and the administrative regulations supporting it may be subject to disciplinary measures.
Students will be allowed to perform in these events only with proper permission and supervision and when the events do not disrupt the education program or other school district operations. The events must be approved by the Superintendent, unless it involves unusual travel and expense, in which case the Board must approve the performance.
It is the responsibility of the Superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy. In developing the administrative regulations, these guidelines should be followed:
It is within the discretion of the Superintendent to determine whether the event will benefit the education program and the participating students. Contests or other performances by students unapproved by the Superintendent are the responsibility of the parent and the student.
Approved: March 25, 2003
Reviewed: July 16, 2019
Revised:
Legal Reference: Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, 484 U.S. 260 (1988); Iowa Code §§ 280.13-.14; 281 I.A.C. 12.6.
Cross Reference: 502 Student Rights and Responsibilities; 503.4 Good Conduct Rule; 504 Student Activities; 904 Community Activities Involving Students.
STUDENT PERSONNEL
Series 500
Policy Title: Student Fund Raising Code No. 504.5
Students may raise funds for school-sponsored events with the permission of the principal. Fund raising by students for events other than school-sponsored events is not allowed. Collection boxes for school fund raising must have prior approval from the principal before being placed on school property, being set up online (crowd source funding websites), or placed off school property.
It is the responsibility of the Superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.
Approved: March 25, 2003
Reviewed: July 16, 2019
Revised: July 16, 2019
Legal Reference: Senior Class of Pekin High School v. Tharp, 154 N.W.2d 874 (Iowa 1967); Iowa Code § 279.8.
Cross Reference: 502 Student Rights and Responsibilities; 503 Student Discipline; 504 Student Activities; 704.5 Student Activities Fund; 904.2 Advertising and Promotion.
STUDENT PERSONNEL
Series 500
Policy Title: Student Activity Program Code No. 504.6
Participation in school activities is a privilege. School activities provide the benefits of promoting additional interests and ability in the students during their school years and for their lifetime.
Students will have an opportunity to participate in a school activity unless the activity is not offered or the student cannot participate for disciplinary reasons. If the activity is an intramural or interscholastic athletic activity, students of each gender will have a comparable opportunity for participation. Comparable opportunity does not guarantee boys and girls will be allowed to play on each other’s teams when there are athletic activities available that will allow both boys and girls the benefits of school activities, which are the promotion of additional interests and abilities in the students.
Student activity events must be approved by the Superintendent unless they involve unusual travel expense, in which case the Board will take action. The events must not disrupt the education program or other school district operations.
A high school student who participates in school sponsored athletics may participate in a non-school sponsored sport during the same season with approval of the athletic director. Such outside participation will not conflict with the school sponsored athletic activity.
It is the responsibility of the Superintendent to develop administrative regulations for each school activity. These regulations will include, but not be limited to, when physical examinations will be required, how and when parents will be informed about the risk of the activity, academic requirements, and proof of insurance on the student participating in certain activities. Students wanting to participate in school activities must meet the requirements set out by the school district for participation in the activity.
Approved: October 14, 1997
Reviewed: July 16, 2019
Revised: March 25, 2003
Legal Reference: 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681-1683; 1685-1687; 34 C.F.R. Pt. 106.41; Iowa Code §§ 216.9; 280.13-.14; 281 I.A.C. 12.3(6), 12.6, 36.15(7).
Cross Reference: 501 Student Attendance; 502 Student Rights and Responsibilities; 503 Student Discipline; 504 Student Activities; 507 Student Health and Well-Being.