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 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 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)

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)