BUILDING AND SITES
Series 900
Policy Title: School – Community Groups Code No. 903.1
The Board values the participation and the support of school district-community groups, including, but not limited to, the booster club and parent-teacher organizations, which strive for the betterment of the School District and the educational program. The Board will work closely with these groups.
Prior to any purchase of, or fund raising for, the purchase of goods or services for the School District, the group will confer with the Superintendent to assist the group in purchasing goods or services to meet the School District’s needs.
Funds raised by these groups for the School District are kept seperate from the accounts of the school distrct.
It is the responsibility of the building principal to be the liaison with the school district-community groups affiliated with the building principal’s attendance center.
Approved: October 14, 2003
Reviewed: September 13, 2016
Revised: March 8, 2022
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 279.8 (2013)
Cross Reference: 903 Public Participation in the School District
BUILDING AND SITES
Series 900
Policy Title: Community Resource Persons and Volunteers Code No. 903.2
The Board recognizes the valuable resource it has in the members of the School District community. When possible, and in concert with the educational program, members of the School District community may be asked to make presentations to the students or to assist employees in duties other than teaching. The School District may officially recognize the contributions made by volunteers.
Recruitment, training, utilization, and the maintenance of records for the purposes of insurance coverage and/or recognition of School District volunteers is the responsibility of the Superintendent.
Volunteers within the district are held to the same high standards of behavior as school employees and will be subject to background checks prior to interacting with students in a volunteer capacity. It is the responsibility of the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee to create regulations necessary to carry out this policy.
Approved: October 14, 2003
Reviewed: March 8, 2022
Revised: March 8, 2022
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 670 (2013)
Cross Reference: 603.1 Basic Instruction Program; 903.3 Visitors to School District Buildings and Sites
BUILDING AND SITES
Series 900
Policy Title: Visitors to School District Buildings & Sites Code No. 903.3
The Board welcomes the interest of parents and other members of the School District community and invites them to visit the school buildings and sites. Visitors, which include persons other than employees or students, must notify the principal of their presence in the facility upon arrival.
Persons who wish to visit a classroom while school is in session are asked to notify the principal and obtain approval from the principal prior to the visit so appropriate arrangements can be made and so class disruption can be minimized. Teachers and other employees will not take time from their duties to discuss matters with visitors.
Visitors will conduct themselves in a manner fitting to their age level and maturity and with mutual respect and consideration for the rights of others while attending school events. Visitors failing to conduct themselves accordingly may be asked to leave the premises. Children who wish to visit school must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult.
It is the responsibility of employees to report inappropriate conduct. It is the responsibility of the Superintendent and principals to take the action necessary to cease the inappropriate conduct. If the Superintendent or principals are not available, a School District employee will act to cease the inappropriate conduct.
Approved: October 14, 2003
Reviewed: March 8, 2022
Revised:
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 716.7 (2013)
Cross Reference: 902 Press, Radio and Television News Media; 903.2 Community Resource Persons and Volunteers
BUILDING AND SITES
Series 900
Policy Title: Public Conduct on School Premises Code No. 903.4
The Board expects that students, employees, and visitors will treat each other with respect, engage in responsible behavior, exercise self-discipline, and model fairness, equity, and respect. Individuals violating this policy will be subject to discipline. Students will be disciplined consistent with the student conduct policies. Employees will be disciplined consistent with employee discipline policies and laws. Others will be subject to discipline according to this policy.
Individuals are permitted to attend school-sponsored or approved activities or visit school premises only as guests of the School District, and, as a condition, they must comply with the School District’s rules and policies. Individuals will not be allowed to interfere with or disrupt the educational program or activity. Visitors, like the participants, are expected to display mature, responsible behavior. The failure of individuals to do so is not only disruptive, but embarrassing to the students, the School District, and the entire community.
To protect the rights of students to participate in the educational program or activities without fear of interference or disruption, and to permit the school officials, employees, and activity sponsors and officials to perform their duties without interference or disruption, the following provisions are in effect:
If an individual becomes physically or verbally abusive, uses vulgar, obscene, or demeaning expressions, or in any way interrupts an activity, the individual may be removed from the event by the individual in charge of the event. Law enforcement may be contacted for assistance.
Individuals removed from school premises have the ability to follow the Board’s chain of command and complaint policies should they choose to do so. The exclusion is in effect should the individual choose to appeal the decision of the Superintendent. The term “individual” as used in the policy also includes students and employees.
If an individual has been notified of exclusion, and thereafter tries to enter a school building or attend a sponsored or approved activity, the individual will be advised that his/her attendance will result in prosecution. The School District may obtain a court order for permanent exclusion from the school building or from future school sponsored or approved activities.
Approved: October 14, 2003
Reviewed: March 8, 2022
Revised: October 9, 2007
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 279.8; .66; 716.7 (2013)
Cross Reference: 205 Board Member Liability; 504 Student Activities; 802.6 Vandalism; 903 Public Participation in the School District
BUILDING AND SITES
Series 900
Policy Title: Distribution of Materials Code No. 903.5
The Board recognizes that students, employees, parents, or citizens may want to distribute materials within the School District that are non-curricular. Non-curricular materials to be distributed must be approved by the building principal and meet certain standards prior to their distribution. Materials approved for distribution by the building principal may be electronically available on the district website or app.
It is the responsibility of the Superintendent, in conjunction with the building principal, to draft administrative regulations regarding this policy.
Approved: October 14, 2003
Reviewed: September 13, 2016
Revised: March 8, 2022
Legal Reference: U.S. Const. amend. I.; Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, 484 U.S. 260 (1988); Bethel School District v. Fraser, 478 U.S. 675 (1986): New Jersey v. T.L.O., 469 U.S. 325 (1985); Tinker v. Des Moines Ind. Comm. Sch. Dist., 393 U.S. 503 (1969); Bystrom v. Fridley High School, 822 F.2d 747 (ith Cir. 1987); Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 280.22 (2013)
Cross Reference: 502.3 Freedom of Expression; 503.1 Student Conduct; 504 Student Activities; 603.9 Academic Freedom
BUILDING AND SITES
Series 900
Administrative Regulation: Distribution of Materials Code No. 903.5R1
Individuals, including students, may have the right to distribute on school premises, at reasonable times and places, unofficial written material, petitions, buttons, badges or other insignia, except expression which:
Anyone wishing to distribute unofficial written material must first submit for approval a copy of the material to the elementary principal designee or secondary principals at least twenty-four hours in advance of desired distribution time, together with the following information:
Within twenty-four hours of submission, the principal will render a decision whether the material violates the guidelines in subsection I or the time, place and manner restrictions in subsection III of this policy. In the event that permission to distribute the material is denied, the person submitting the request should be informed in writing of the reasons for the denial. Permission to distribute material does not imply approval of its contents by either the school, the administration, the Board or the individual reviewing the material submitted.
If the person submitting the request does not receive a response within twenty-four hours of submission, the person will contact the building principal’s office to verify that the lack of response was not due to an inability to locate the person.
If the person has made this verification and there is no response to the request, the material may be distributed in accordance with the time, place and manner provisions in subsection III.
If the person is dissatisfied with the decision of the principal, the person may submit a written request for appeal to the superintendent. If the person does not receive a response within three school days of submitting the appeal, the person will contact the superintendent to verify that the lack of response is not due to an inability to locate the person. If the person has made this verification and there is no response to the appeal, the material may be distributed in accordance with the time, place and manner provisions in subsection III.
At every level of the process the person submitting the request will have the right to appear and present the reasons, supporting by relevant witnesses and material, as to why distribution of the written material is appropriate.
Permission to distribute material does not imply approval of its contents by either the school district, the Board, the administration or the individual reviewing the material submitted.
The distribution of written material is prohibited when it blocks the safe flow of traffic within corridors and entrance ways of the school or otherwise disrupts school activities. The distribution of unofficial material is limited to a reasonable time, place and manner as follows:
The following definitions apply to the following terms used in this policy:
In order for expression to be considered disruptive, there must exist specific facts upon which the likelihood of disruption can be forecasted including past experience in the school, current events influencing student activities and behavior, and instances of actual or threatened disruption relating to the written material in question.
Distribution by any student of unofficial written material prohibited in subsection I or in violation of subsection III may be halted, and students may be subject to discipline including suspension and expulsion. Any other party violating this policy may be requested to leave the school properly immediately and, if necessary, local law enforcement officials will be called.
A copy of this policy will be published in student handbooks and posted conspicuously in school buildings.
Approved: October 14, 2003
Reviewed: March 8, 2022