606.4 - School Ceremonies and Observances

 

The school district will continue school ceremonies and observances which have become a tradition and a custom of the education program.  These include, but are not limited to, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and observance of holidays, such as Christmas, Halloween and Easter, by programs and performances.  Such ceremonies or observances will have a secular purpose and will not advocate or sponsor a particular religion.

The district will provide and maintain a suitable flagstaff at each school site and raise the Iowa and United States flags each school day as weather conditions permit.  The district will display the United States flag and administer the Pledge of Allegiance in each 1st through 12th grade classroom on school days.

At school sites with more than two flagstaffs, the following are allowed on the additional flagstaffs:

• Flags representing the Independence Community School District.
• Flags representing the cities of Brandon, Independence, Rowley, or Buchanan County, Iowa.
• Flags representing U.S. armed forces.
• Flags representing U.S. law enforcement agencies.
• Flags representing other U.S. government entities.
• Flags representing schools, including post-secondary institutions, participating in the activity or event at the site.
• Flags of the nations of currently enrolled foreign students.

 

Students who do not wish to participate in these activities may be silent during the ceremony or observance or receive permission from the principal to be excused from the ceremony for religious reasons in compliance with board policy.

 

Legal Reference:          U.S. Const. amend. I.

                                    Lee v. Weisman, 112 S.Ct. 2649 (1992).

                                    Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971).

                                    Graham v. Central Community School District of Decatur County, 608 F.Supp. 531 (S.D. Iowa 1985).

                                    Iowa Code § 279.8, 280.5

                                    Shurtleff v. City of Boston, 596 U.S. ___ (2022)

 

Cross Reference:         603      Instructional Curriculum

                                    604.6   Religious-Based Exclusion from a School Program

                                    906.1   Community Use of School District Facilities & Equipment

                                    604.10  Foreign Students

 

Approved:  11/01/2004

Reviewed:  05/27/2008, 02/15/2013, 05/21/2018, 09/20/2021, 03/20/2023

Revised:  09/20/2021, 03/20/2023