STUDENT GOVERNMENT
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, shall set forth the guidelines for the student government's elections, operations, and other elements of the government.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code § 279.8 (1995).
Cross Reference: 502 Student Rights and Responsibilities
504 Student Activities
Approved: 4/14/97 Reviewed: 10/99
6/06
4/16
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Secondary school student-initiated, noncurriculum-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 shall 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 shall not interfere with the orderly conduct of the education program or other school district operations. It shall be 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 shall have priority over the activities of another organization.
Curriculum-Related Organizations
It shall 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:
· Is the subject matter of the group actually taught in a regularly offered course?
· Will the subject matter of the group soon be taught in a regularly offered course?
· Does the subject matter of the group concern the body of courses as a whole?
· Is participation in the group required for a particular course?
· Does participation in the group result in academic credit?
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 shall be assigned to monitor approved meetings and may interact with curriculum-related organizations.
Approved: 4/14/97 Reviewed: 10/99
6/06
4/16
STUDENT PUBLICATIONS
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 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 shall 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 shall be 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 shall 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 shall follow the grievance procedure outlined in board policy 502.6.
The superintendent shall be responsible for developing a student publications code. This code shall include, but not be limited to, reasonable rules including time, place, and manner of restrictions. The superintendent shall also be responsible for distributing this policy and the student publications code to the students and their parents.
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 (1995).
Cross Reference: 502 Student Rights and Responsibilities
504 Student Activities
Approved: 4/14/97 Reviewed: 10/99
6/06
4/16
STUDENT PUBLICATIONS CODE
A. Official school publications defined.
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.
B. Expression in an official school publication.
1. No student shall express, publish or distribute in an official school publication material which is:
a. obscene;
b. libelous;
c. slanderous; or
d. encourages students to:
1) commit unlawful acts;
2) violate school rules;
3) cause the material and substantial disruption of the orderly and efficient operation of the school or school activity;
4) disrupt or interfere with the education program;
5) interrupt the maintenance of a disciplined atmosphere; or
6) infringe on the rights of others.
2. The official school publication shall be produced under the supervision of a faculty advisor.
C. Responsibilities of students.
1. Students writing or editing official school publications shall assign and edit the news, editorial and feature contents of the official school publications subject to the limitations of the student publications code and the law.
2. Students shall strive to achieve professional standards of accuracy, fairness, objectivity and thoroughness in each and every aspect of official school publications.
3. Students shall strive to achieve professional standards of grammar, usage, punctuation and spelling for clarity and accuracy of official school publications.
D. Responsibilities of faculty advisors.
Faculty advisors shall 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.
E. Liability.
Student expression in an official school publication shall 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.
F. Appeal procedure.
1. Students who believe they have been unreasonably restricted in their exercise of expression in an official student publication shall seek review of the decision through the student grievance procedure, under board policy 502.6.
2. Persons who believe they have been aggrieved by a student-produced official student publication shall file their complaint through the citizen grievance procedure, under board policy 214.1.
G. Time, place and manner of restrictions on official school publications.
1. Official student publications may be distributed in a reasonable manner on or off school premises.
2. Distribution in a reasonable manner shall not encourage students to:
a. commit unlawful acts;
b. violate school rules;
c. cause the material and substantial disruption of the orderly and efficient operation of the school district or school activity;
d. disrupt or interfere with the education program;
e. interrupt the maintenance of a disciplined atmosphere; or
f. infringe on the rights of others.
Approved: 4/14/97 Reviewed: 10/99
6/06
4/16
STUDENT PERFORMANCES
Students, as part of the education 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 of the performance.
It shall be 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:
· Performances by student groups below the high school level should be allowed on a very limited basis;
· All groups of students should have an opportunity to participate; and,
· Extensive travel by one group of students should be discouraged.
It shall be 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 shall be the responsibility of the parent and the student.
Legal Reference: Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, 484 U.S. 260 (1988).
Iowa Code §§ 280.13-.14 (1995).
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
Approved: 4/14/97 Reviewed: 10/99
6/06
4/16
STUDENT FUNDRAISING
Students may raise funds for school-sponsored events with the permission of the Board. 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.
It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.
A master list of fundraisers will be submitted to the Board annually for review.
Legal Reference: Senior Class of Pekin High School v. Tharp, 154 N.W.2d 874 (Iowa 1967).
Iowa Code § 279.8 (1995).
Cross Reference: 502 Student Rights and Responsibilities
503 Student Discipline
504 Student Activities
704.5 Student Activities Fund
904.2 Advertising and Promotion
Approved: 4/14/97 Revised: 10/99
6/06
4/16
Some fundraisers may be conducted for specific purposes: i.e. uniforms, trips, etc. When such fundraisers are held, the designated purpose shall be adhered to unless circumstances should arise that the initial purpose cannot be met.
For aforementioned fundraisers, records will be maintained by the responsible faculty member to include individual student records when necessary, and affiliated company contracts, and/or related records. Because fundraisers are monies under the auspices of school district activity funds, it is important that strict records are kept and copies of the records shared with the building principal.
Money that is earned by a student for a specific cause cannot be spent on other items. Nor, can students pass on their earnings to siblings or other students. If a student fails to raise the required amount for the designated purpose, responsibility for payment falls to the legal guardian. A ceiling will be set as to how much a student may earn through fundraising and application toward the individual’s function. Money earned beyond that limit shall be placed in the appropriate activity fund.
If a situation should arise that there are too few students meeting the fundraising requirements to meet the purpose of the fundraiser, an alternative plan shall be presented to the administration and communicated to all concerned, including the Board and parents, that allows qualified students to participate in an alternative activity. The balance of unspent funds shall be placed in the appropriate activity fund.
Approved: 1/01 Reviewed: 6/06
4/16
STUDENT CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
The Board believes that student activities at school are a vital part of the total educational program and should be used as a means for developing wholesome attitudes and good human relations as well as a means of self-realization. Students who take part in an approved activity must realize that they represent the school and community, and that their behavior and appearance are of the utmost importance. The sponsor of the activity subject to the district’s policies and regulations as well as any specific rules sets students forth.
Co-curricular Activity: An activity sponsored by the school in which the student performs or appears before the public.
Activities included but not limited to the following: Athletics, Vocal and Instrumental Music,
Speech, Drama, FHA, FFA, Dancing and Cheerleading.
Non-school Sponsored Sports
A high school student who participates in school sponsored athletics may participate in a non-school sponsored sport during the same season upon approval of the administration. Such outside participation shall not conflict with the school sponsored athletic activity.
Penalty: Three weeks suspension or the remaining one third of the season.
Community Night
Wednesday night shall be recognized as “community night”, and efforts shall be made to complete school activities by 6:30 p.m. Any exceptions must have prior administrative approval. Sunday activities are also discouraged.
Legal Reference: 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681-1683; 1685-1686 (1988).
34 C.F.R. Pt. 106.41 (1993).
Iowa Code §§ 216.9; 280.13-.14 (1997).
281 I.A.C. 12.6.
Cross Reference: 504.6R Eligibility
508.2 Community Night
Approved: 4/97 Revised: 11/98 Reviewed: 10/99
6/06
4/16