It shall be the policy of the Board of Directors to keep the community informed of the objectives, achievements, needs and conditions of the school system.  The Superintendent shall be responsible for initiating and administering a continuous program of communication within the community.  He/she shall utilize needed school personnel and all media available in discharging this responsibility.

 

 

 (April 18, 1983; July 15, 1991; July 7, 2003; July 18, 2011; June 23, 2014; April 6, 2020)

 

The Board of Directors is committed to actively cooperating with official area community agencies and organizations concerned with the welfare of students.  The Board of Directors and the District are further committed to maintaining an open communication between the schools and the public.  Community support for the program of the schools can best be established through a public that understands and is active in school affairs.

 

 

(April 18, 1983; July 7, 2003; July 18, 2011; June 23, 2014; April 6, 2020)

 

The Board recognizes the value of and supports open, fair and honest communication with the news media.  The Board and the District will maintain a cooperative relationship with the news media.  As part of this cooperative relationship, the Board, the District, and the media will develop a means for sharing information while respecting each party’s limitations.

Members of the news media are encouraged and welcome to attend open Board meetings.  The Board President is the spokesperson for the Board, and the Superintendent is the spokesperson for the District.  It is the responsibility of the Board President and the Superintendent to respond to inquiries from the news media about the District.

Members of the news media seeking information about the school district will direct their inquiries to the Superintendent.  The Superintendent will accurately and objectively provide information responsive to any inquiries from the news media to the extent permitted under law and as appropriate, given the circumstances surrounding the request.

 

 

(April 6, 2020)

 

The Superintendent, on behalf of the Board and the District, may hold a news conference or respond to a request for an interview with the news media.  It is the responsibility of the Superintendent to keep the Board apprised of news conferences and interviews.

News conferences and interviews may include the Board President and/or the Superintendent.  It is within the discretion of the Superintendent to determine whether a news conference or interview is held to provide an immediate response to an issue.

School district personnel shall refer interview requests and information requests from the news media to the Superintendent.  School district personnel may be interviewed or provide information about school district matters only after receiving permission from the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee.  It shall be within the discretion of the Superintendent to allow news media to interview and to receive information from school district personnel.

 

 

(April 6, 2020)

 

The Superintendent will determine when a news release about internal school district and/or Board matters will be issued.  In making this determination, the Superintendent will strive to keep the media and the school district community accurately and objectively informed.  Further, the Superintendent will strive to create and maintain a positive image for the school district. 

News releases will be prepared and disseminated to news media in the school district community.  It is the responsibility of the Superintendent to approve news releases originating within the school district prior to their release.  Questions about news releases should be directed to the Superintendent.

 

 

(April 18, 1983; July 7, 2003; July 18, 2011; June 23, 2014; April 6, 2020)

 

Individuals, including individuals associated with a news media entity, may broadcast or record public school district events, including open Board meetings, as long as it does not interfere with or disrupt the school district event and it does not create an undue burden for the school district to accommodate the request.

It is within the discretion of the Superintendent to determine whether the request is unduly burdensome and whether the broadcast or recording will interfere with or disrupt the school district event.

Recording of student and/or classroom activities will generally not be allowed, except in exceptional circumstances and only with the approval of the Superintendent.  Individuals found to be recording activities without the appropriate authority and/or approval may be removed from the school district property and law enforcement may be notified.

 

 

(April 6, 2020)

 

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 education program.  The Board will work closely with these groups.

Parent-teacher organizations may be established for each attendance unit in the school district.  The building administrator for each attendance unit shall serve as the liaison officer representing the school system.

Membership and rules governing school-community groups/organizations shall be determined by each individual organization and/or organization at teach attendance unit.  Activities of individual organizations and/or units, when related to school purposes, shall be evaluated by the administrator assigned to that attendance unit.

Funds raised by these organizations for the school district may be kept as part of the accounts of the school district or may be separately maintained by the organization, as mutually agreed upon by the organization and the Superintendent acting on behalf of the school district.

Prior to any purchase of, or fund raising for the purchase of goods or services for the school district, the organization will confer with the Superintendent to assist the organization in purchasing goods or services to meet the school district’s needs.

 

 

(April 18, 1983; May 15, 2000, July 7, 2003; July 18, 2011; June 23, 2014; April 6, 2020)

 

The Board recognizes the valuable resource it has in the members of the school district community.  When possible and in concert with the education 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 when the volunteering would be appropriate considering the needs of the educational program.

The volunteer may be asked to agree to a criminal background check and/or a sexual abuse check prior to volunteering.

Whether an individual will be permitted to volunteer for the school district will be the sole discretion of the Superintendent, and the Superintendent may inform an individual he/she is no longer permitted to volunteer for the school district at any time for any lawful reason. 

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.

 

 

(April 6, 2020)

 

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.  Visitors who do not notify the principal of their presence may be considered trespassers.

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 and/or may be banned from the premises for an extended period of time.  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.

 

 

(April 17, 1989; July 15, 1991; July 7, 2003; July 18, 2011; June 23, 2014; April 6, 2020)

 

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 education program or activity or anyone’s participation in or viewing of the 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 education 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:

• Abusive, verbal or physical conduct of individuals directed at students, school officials, employees, officials, and activity sponsors of sponsored or approved activities or at other individuals will not be tolerated.
• Verbal or physical conduct of individuals that interferes with the performance of students, school officials, employees, officials, and activity sponsors of sponsored or approved activities will not be tolerated.
• The use of vulgar, obscene, offensive, or demeaning expression directed at students, school officials, employees, officials and activity sponsors of sponsored or approved activities participating in a sponsored or approved activity or at other individuals will not be tolerated.

If an individual becomes physically or verbally abusive, uses vulgar, obscene or demeaning expression, or in any way interrupts an activity, the individual may be removed from the event by the individual in charge of the event and the Superintendent may exclude the spectator at future sponsored or approved activities.  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 pursuant to the Board’s procedures.  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 attends 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.

 

 

(September 20, 1999; July 7, 2003; January 17, 2011; July 9, 2012; January 19, 2015; April 6, 2020)

 

The use of tobacco and nicotine products; including, but not limited to, cigarettes, nicotine chew, snus, dissolvables, vaping devices, electronic cigarettes and/or other nicotine products that are not approved by the Federal Drug Administration for tobacco cessation; on school district property; including in school district buildings, on school district grounds, in school district transportation vehicles, or at any school district activity; is prohibited. 

This policy extends to all students, employees, volunteers, and visitors.  This policy applies at all times, including during school-sponsored events and during non-school-sponsored events.

Persons violating this policy shall be asked to cease using the tobacco and/or nicotine product, properly dispose of the tobacco and/or nicotine product and refrain from using tobacco and/or nicotine products in the future.  Persons failing to abide by this request shall be required to leave the school district premises immediately.

It shall be the responsibility of all school district personnel, and specifically school district administrators, to enforce this policy. 

 

 

(December 21, 1987; July 15, 1991; December 19, 1994; July 7, 2003; June 19, 2006; July 18, 2011; June 23, 2014; April 6, 2020)

 

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.

 

 

(December 19, 1994; July 7, 2003; January 17, 2011; July 9, 2012; January 19, 2015; April 6, 2020)

 

 I.       Guidelines.

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:

1. is obscene to minors;
2. is libelous;
3. contains indecent, vulgar, profane or lewd language;
4. advertises any product or service not permitted to minors by law;
5. constitutes insulting or fighting words, the very expression of which injures or harasses other people (e.g., threats of violence, defamation of character or of a person’s race, religion, gender, disability, age or ethnic origin);
6. presents a clear and present likelihood that, either because of its content or the manner of distribution, it will cause a material and substantial disruption of the proper and orderly operation and discipline of the school or school activities, will cause the commission of unlawful acts or the violation of lawful school regulations.

Distribution on school premises of material in categories (1) through (4) to any student is prohibited.  Distribution on school premises of material in categories (5) and (6) to a substantial number of students is prohibited.

 

II.      Procedures.

Anyone wishing to distribute unofficial written material must first submit for approval a copy of the material to the building principal at least twenty-four hours in advance of desired distribution time, together with the following information:

1. Name and phone number of the person submitting request and, if a student, the homeroom number;
2. Date(s) and time(s) of day of intended display or distribution;
3. Location where material will be displayed or distributed;
4. The grade(s) of students to whom the display or distribution is intended.

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 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 (3) 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, supported by relevant 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.

 

III.     Time, Place, and Manner of Distribution.

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:

1. The material will be distributed from a table set up for the purpose in a location designated by the principal, which location will not block the safe flow of traffic or block the corridors or entrance ways, but which will give reasonable access to students.
2. The material will be distributed either before and/or after the regular instructional day.
3. No written material may be distributed during and at the place of a normal school activity if it is reasonably likely to cause a material and substantial disruption of that activity.

 

IV.     Definitions.

The following definitions apply to the following terms used in this policy:

1. “Obscene to minors” is defined as:
   (a)  The average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find that the written material, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest of minors of the age to whom distribution is requested;
   (b)  The material depicts or describes, in a manner that is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community concerning how such conduct should be presented to minors of the age to whom distribution is requested, sexual conduct such as intimate sexual acts (normal or perverted), masturbation, excretory functions, and lewd exhibition of the genitals; and
   (c)  The material, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for minors.

2. “Minor” means any person under the age of eighteen.

3.  “Material and substantial disruption” of a normal school activity is defined as follows:
   (a)  Where the normal school activity is an educational program of the district for which student attendance is compulsory, “material and substantial disruption” is defined as any disruption which interferes with or impedes the implementation of that program.
   (b)  Where the normal school activity is voluntary in nature (including, without limitation, school athletic events, school plays and concerts, and lunch periods), “material and substantial disruption” is defined as student rioting, unlawful seizures of property, widespread shouting or boisterous demonstration, sit-in, stand-in, walk-out, or other related forms of activity.
   (c)  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.

4. “School activities” means any activity of students sponsored by the school and includes, by way of example but not limited to, classroom work, library activities, physical education classes, official assemblies and other similar gatherings, school athletic contests, band concerts, school plays and in-school lunch periods.

5. “Unofficial” written material includes all written material except school newspapers, literary magazines, yearbooks, and other publications funded and/or sponsored or authorized by the school.  Examples include leaflets, brochures, flyers, petitions, placards and underground newspapers, whether written by students or others.

6. “Libelous” is a false and unprivileged statement about a specific individual that tends to harm the individual’s reputation or to lower him/her in the esteem of the community.

7. “Distribution” means circulation or dissemination of written material by means of handing out free copies, selling or offering copies for sale and accepting donations for copies.  It includes displaying written material in areas of the school which are generally frequented by students.

 

V.      Disciplinary action.

Distribution by any student or employee 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, and employees may be subject to discipline up to and including termination.  Any other party violating this policy may be requested to leave the school property immediately and, if necessary, local law enforcement officials will be called.

 

 

(April 6, 2020)

 

Educational facilities, teachers, and students shall not be used in any manner for advertising and/or for the promotion or sale of services or products of agencies or organizations operating for profit.  The Board of Directors specifically forbids such activities, including but not limited to the following:

1. Distribution by students of pamphlets urging students, parents, and others to purchase services or products sold for profit.
2. The sale by students or teachers of products and/or services, except in relation to production by students as part of the program.
3. Similar activities which would involve the teachers and students and which would interfere with the normal time and activities of the school.

This means that the use of students, including students’ names and/or likenesses; employees, including employees’ names and/or likenesses; the school district name; or its buildings and sites for advertising and promoting products and/or services of entities and/or organizations operating for a profit or political entities and/or organizations is generally not allowed.

Where the Board of Directors and/or the Superintendent feel that the educational gain outweighs any promotional purpose, prior approval can be given by the Board to an activity generally prohibited by this policy.  Specifically exempted from the provisions of this policy shall be a student insurance program.

 

 

(April 18, 1983; July 7, 2003; July 18, 2011; June 23, 2014; April 6, 2020)

 

Public records of the school district may be viewed by the public during the regular business hours of the administrative office of the school district.  These hours are 7:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Monday through Friday, except for holidays and recesses.

Persons wishing to review the school district’s public records shall contact the Board Secretary and make arrangements for the viewing.  The Board Secretary will make arrangements for the individual making the request to view the records as soon as possible, depending on the nature of the request.

Persons wishing to receive a copy of the school district’s public records shall submit said request in writing to the Board Secretary.  Persons wanting copies of the school district’s public records shall be assessed a standard fee for the copy.  Persons wanting compilation of already-existing records shall be assessed a fee for the time of the school district employee to compile such records. 

Any fee assessed pursuant to this policy will include a per page copy fee, consistent with the school district’s current per page copy fee, a fee for the actual expenses incurred for a school district employee to locate and compile the requested records, and a fee for the actual expenses incurred for a school district employee or other individual, including but not limited to an attorney, to review and, if necessary, redact the requested records.  The school district may require pre-payment of the costs prior to providing the requested records.

Records defined by law as confidential records shall only be viewed or copied in accordance with the law and with this policy.

The Board Secretary shall be the custodian of school district and Board records.  It shall be the responsibility of the Board Secretary to respond in a timely manner to requests for viewing and receiving public records of the school district. 

 

 

(April 17, 1989; July 15, 1991; July 7, 2003; July 18, 2011; June 23, 2014; April 6, 2020)

 

The Board of Directors wishes to promote the active participation of all age groups in school activities and programs.  In an effort to encourage people in the South Tama County Community School District who are 65 years of age and over to attend school district activities and programs, the Board of Directors, upon receipt of application, will issue the individual a Blue Card, which will admit the recipients to all school activities without cost.

 

 

(April 18, 1983; July 7, 2003; July 18, 2011; June 23, 2014; April 6, 2020)