504 Student Activities

504.1 Student Government

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, will set forth the guidelines for the student government's elections, operations, and other elements of the government.
 
 
Legal Reference:           Iowa Code § 279.8 (2001).
 
 
Cross Reference:           502       Student Rights and Responsibilities
504       Student Activities
 
 
Previously Policy No. 503.1
 
 
Adopted:  November 11, 1985              
 
Reviewed:  March 1998                  
September 2006
December 17, 2012
 
Revised:  February 17, 2003
 

504.2 Student Organizations

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
 
Extracurricular activities and student groups are related to the curriculum of the secondary schools in the school district.  These secondary school curriculum-related student organizations may use the school facilities for meetings and other purposes before, after, and during the instructional school day.
 
It is the responsibility of the building 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?
 
It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.  The administrative regulations will include, but not be limited to, stating the process for establishing a curriculum-related student group, assigning a faculty advisor and obtaining board approval for each student group.  The administrative rules will also include the purpose of each group and its relationship to the curriculum.
 
 
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 (1994).
Iowa Code §§ 287.1-.3; 297.9 (2001).
 
Cross Reference:           502       Student Rights and Responsibilities
504       Student Activities
 
 
Adopted:  May 12, 1986                       
 
Reviewed:  March 1998                   
September 2006
December 17, 2012
 
Revised:  February 17, 2003
 

504.3 Student Publications

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 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.
 
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 (2001).
 
Cross Reference:           502       Student Rights and Responsibilities
504       Student Activities
 
 
Adopted:  February 8, 1988                  
 
Reviewed:  March 1998                  
September 2006
December 17, 2012
 
Revised:  February 17, 2003
 

504.3R1 Student Publications Code

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 will 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 is produced under the supervision of a faculty advisor.
 
C.     Responsibilities of students.
 
        1.       Students writing or editing official school publications will 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 will strive to achieve professional standards of accuracy, fairness, objectivity and thoroughness in each and every aspect of official school publications.
 
        3.       Students will 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 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.
 
E.     Liability.
 
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.
 
F.     Appeal procedure.
 
        1.       Students who believe they have been unreasonably restricted in their exercise of expression in an official student publication will 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 will 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 will 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.
 
 

504.4 Student Performances

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 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:
 
                  ·        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 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.
 
Legal Reference:           Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, 484 U.S. 260 (1988).
Iowa Code §§ 280.13-.14 (2001).
281 I.A.C. 12.6.
 
Cross Reference:           502       Student Rights and Responsibilities
503.9    Good Conduct Rule
504       Student Activities
 
 
Adopted:  February 17, 2003                
 
Reviewed: September 2006             
December 17, 2012
 

504.5 Student Fund-Raising

STUDENT FUND-RAISING
 
Students may raise funds or otherwise solicit for school sponsored events.  Fund raising and soliciting shall be in good taste and for a school sponsored event or activity.  Only with the approval of their principal may fund raising and soliciting be done by students as a representative of the school district or on school property.
 
It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.
 
Legal References:          Iowa Code  § 280.14 (1987)
 
Cross References:          502       Student Rights and Responsibilities
503       Student Discipline
504       Student Activities
 
Previously Code No.  503.10
 
 
Adopted:  February 8, 1988                  
 
Reviewed:   March 1998                 
January 20, 2003
September 2006
December 17, 2012
 

504.6 Student Activity Program

STUDENT ACTIVITY PROGRAM
 
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 the opposite sex 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 to reap 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 under the following conditions:
 

  1. The non-school sponsored sport is a different sport from the school-sponsored sport in season.

 

  1. Such outside participation shall not conflict with the school sponsored athletic activity.  Both high school head coaches of the sports involved must agree to the athlete’s participation, ie; during track season both the head track coach and the head basketball coach would have to agree that an athlete’s participation in a non-school sponsored basketball league was not in conflict with the school-sponsored program.  In cases where either coach denied participation, a written statement providing the specific reasons for the denial shall be provided to the athlete, the athletic director and to the superintendent.

 

  1. An athlete may appeal a coach’s decision by submitting a written request for reconsideration to the athletic director within three (3) days of the denial.  Such request will specify the reasons the athlete believes the denial should be reversed.  The athletic director and superintendent will review both the rational for the denial and the reasons provided in the athlete’s request for review and shall respond to the athlete in writing within ten (10) days of receiving the request.  If needed, the review panel may also interview the parties involved.  Should either the athletic director or the superintendent be unavailable to review the request within the stated guidelines, the high school principal, the middle school principal or the elementary principal will serve in their absence, in that order.  The panel’s decision is final.

 
Participation in non-school sponsored sports is not restricted during any season in which an athlete chooses not to participate in a school-sponsored sport, nor during any period in which no school-sponsored sport is in session.
 
Violation of this policy shall result in the athlete losing eligibility in the in-season sport for the remainder of that season.
 
It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations for each school activity.  These regulations shall include, but not be limited to, when physical examination 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.
 
Previously Code No. 503.5
 
Adopted:  November 11, 1985              
 
Reviewed:  January 20, 2003          
September 2006        
December 17, 2012
 
Revised:  December 12, 1998
May 17, 1999

504.7 Student Attendance at Events Outside of School & State Competition

STUDENT ATTENDANCE AT EVENTS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL
AND STATE COMPETITION
 
Events in which students participate during school hours or as representatives of the school at places outside of the school must be sponsored and supervised by professional school personnel.  Rules of behavior shall be the same as for any in-school activity or event.
 
Students/athletes/coaches attending state level athletic competitions will be subject to the following guidelines:
 

  1. The school will provide transportation and lodging for those who have qualified to represent our school at the state level - including bona-fide alternates and coaches of that sport.  Under no circumstances will others ride with or stay with the qualifying group.

 

  1. Those athletes qualifying for state competition, bona-fide alternates, and coaches, will receive approved absences (extenuating circumstances) and district professional days, respectively, for their missed school time.

 

  1. Any non-qualifying team members or other members of the student body wishing to attend a state event that coincides with school time will be discouraged from doing so.  These students will only be allowed to attend with a parent's note, and the absence will be considered as part of their six allowed absences, unless accompanying parent/s to watch a brother or sister perform.

 

  1. In recognition of the fact that attending one of these state tournaments may foster increased interest in the sport, serve as a motivating factor to team members, and an expression of gratitude on the part of coaches to senior team members the school will provide transportation and admission costs, only, according to the following guidelines.

            A.        Attendance at the event will cause no missed school time.
            B.         All varsity athletes are given an opportunity to go, but not required to do so.
            C.         The school will pay for transportation and the athletic department will cover admission costs only, any incidentals such as food, lodging, etc. will need to be covered by the individual students or outside donations.
            D.        The head coach will be required to accompany the group traveling to the event, and if the numbers warrant, a sufficient number of chaperones assigned by the  head coach will be present, as well.
 

  1. Individuals and teams which qualify for state competition, as well as coaches will be allowed to remain at the tournament event until it's conclusion. The only exception to this will be in the case of a first round game being held on Monday or Tuesday. In this case, should our team lose the first round game, coaches and athletes would return home, but would be allowed to return for the weekend session. If the team should win the first round game the decision to stay or return will be left to the administration, with input from the coaches.

 
Legal References:          Iowa Code Section 280.1
 
Previously Code No. 503.7
 
Adopted:  November 11, 1985              
 
Reviewed:  January 20, 2003          
September 2006
December 17, 2012
 
Revised:  June 16, 1997

504.8 Interscholastic Competition

INTERSCHOLASTIC COMPETITION
 
Students may participate in interscholastic competitions that are sponsored or administered by organizations registered with the Iowa Department of Public Instruction.  The governing organizations shall prescribe and implement eligibility requirements for students participating in contests or competitions as prescribed by state guidelines.
 
The Board of Directors of this school district may make any additional good conduct rules not in conflict with those of the governing organization.  The Board may suspend eligibility for violation of school rules established for the orderly governance of the school
 
Legal References:          Iowa Code Sections 280.13;  280.14
 Iowa Administrative Code 670-9.15
Court Cases:  Bunger v. Iowa High School Athletic Association
197 N.W. 2d 555 (IA. 1972)
 
Cross References:          503.9    Student Good Conduct Rule
 
Previously Code No. 503.6
 
Adopted:  November 11, 1985              
 
Reviewed:   March 1998                  
January 20, 2003
September 2006
December 17, 2012
 

504.9 Student Social Events

STUDENT SOCIAL EVENTS
 
All school-sponsored events shall be under the control and supervision of school personnel.  Approval for an event shall be secured from the principal of the building involved, and the event shall be placed on the school calendar before any public announcement is made.  Hours, behavior, and activities related to school-sponsored events shall be reasonable and proper.
 
Previously Code No. 503.4
 
 
Adopted:  November 11, 1985              
 
Reviewed:   March 1998                  
January 20, 2003
September 2006
December 17, 2012
 

504.10 Student Activites Fund

STUDENT ACTIVITIES FUND
 
Collection of any funds for school activities must have the recommendation of the building principal and the approval of the superintendent. Revenue raised by students or from student activities shall be deposited and accounted for in the student activities fund.  This revenue is the property of and shall be under the financial control of the board.  Students may use this revenue for purposes approved by the building principal.
 
Whether such revenue is collected from student contributions, club dues, and special activities or result from admissions to special events or from other fund-raising activities, all funds will be under the jurisdiction of the board and under the specific control of the building principal.  They will be deposited in a designated depository and will be disbursed and accounted for in accordance with instructions issued by the superintendent.
 
It shall be the responsibility of each building secretary to keep student activity accounts up-to-date and complete for their building.
 
Any unencumbered class or activity account balances will automatically revert to the general fund activity fund of the school when a class graduates or an activity is discontinued.
 
Legal References:          Iowa Administrative Code 3.3(3)
Iowa code §§ 11.23; 279.8 (1997)
                                   
Cross References:          504       Student Activities
 
Previously Code No.  505.2
 
Adopted:  November 11, 1985              
 
Reviewed:  January 20, 2003       
September 2006
December 17, 2012
 
Revised: November 16, 1998