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 (2003).

Cross Reference:  502      Student Rights and Responsibilities
                                      504      Student Activities

Approved 11/1/2004                             Reviewed 10/27/2008                           Revised                   
                                                                                            02/17/2014
                                                                                            03/18/2019

Secondary school student-initiated curriculum-related groups, upon receiving permission from the principal, may use school facilities for group meetings during non-instructional time.  All student groups must have adult supervision.

Non-instructional time will mean any time before the first period of the day, but after beginning contract time for teachers and after the last period of the day in which any student attends class, but not longer than the contract day for teachers.  Meetings will not interfere with the orderly conduct of the education program or other school district operations.  It is 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 will have priority over the activities of another organization.

Curriculum-Related Organizations

It will 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 are assigned to monitor approved meetings and may interact with curriculum-related organizations.

Non-curriculum-Related Organizations

Student-initiated, non-curriculum-related organizations are provided access to meeting space and school district facilities, as per equal access guidelines.  They are to fill out a district rental agreement form; depending on the scope of activity of the group, proof of liability insurance may be required.  All student initiated non-curricular groups must have adult supervision. 

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
                                      Iowa Code §§ 287; 297.9.

Cross Reference:  502      Student Rights and Responsibilities
                                                  504         Student Activities

Approved 11/1/2004                       Reviewed 10/27/2008                     Revised 10/11/2010    
                                                                                      02/17/2014
                                                                                      03/18/2019

Rescinded per Policy Primer Vol.29, Number 5 (Student Publications) Board Reviewed and Approved 09/20/2021

School-sponsored social events shall be approved by the principal and placed on the school calendar prior to public announcement.  They shall be under the control and supervision of employees.  The hours and activities of the event shall be reasonable and in keeping with board policy.

School-sponsored social events are open to the students enrolled in the school district.  Others, such as alumni or nonschool students, may attend as the date or escort of students enrolled in the school district or with the permission of the licensed employees supervising the event.

Students' behavior shall be in keeping with the behavior required during regular school hours.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 282.3 (2003).

Cross Reference:  404      Employee Conduct and Appearance
                                      502      Student Rights and Responsibilities
                                      503      Student Discipline

Approved 11/1/2004                             Reviewed 12/15/2008                           Revised                   
                                                                                           02/17/2014
                                                                                           03/18/2019                          

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 (2003).
                                      281 I.A.C. 12.6.

Cross Reference:  502      Student Rights and Responsibilities
                                      503.4   Good Conduct Policy
                                      504      Student Activities
                                      905      Community Activities Involving Students

Approved 11/1/2004                             Reviewed 12/15/2008                           Revised 03/18/2019
                                                                                           02/17/2014
                                                                                           03/18/2019

Students may raise funds for school-sponsored events by having the coach/sponsor fill out the appropriate fundraising request for permission.  This request must be approved by the Building Principal, and then submitted to the Activities Director for final approval.  If the fund raiser is projected to raise more than $3,500.00, prior approval from the Board of Education will be required.  If this policy is not followed as written, the disciplinary steps will be:

1st Offense – Letter of reprimand to be placed in personnel file signed by Activities Director and Staff Member

2nd Offense – One half of money raised will be placed in general activity fund

3rd Offense – All money raised will be placed in general activity fund

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the Activities Director, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.

Legal Reference:  Senior Class of Pekin High School v. Tharp, 154 N.W.2d 874 (Iowa 1967).
                                      Iowa Code § 279.8 (2003).

Cross Reference:  402.9  Solicitations from Outside
                                      502      Student Rights and Responsibilities
                                      503      Student Discipline
                                      504      Student Activities
                                      704.5   Student Activities Fund
                                      905.2   Advertising and Promotion

Approved 11/1/2004                             Reviewed 12/15/2008                           Revised 09/20/2010
                                                                                            02/17/2014                                            08/15/2011
                                                                                            07/15/2019                                            07/15/2019

Coordination of education programs with local businesses can benefit the school district community.  When mutually acceptable arrangements can be made between a local business and the board, secondary students may work for a local business to obtain school credit.

Such programs must be compatible with the education program and have the approval of the board.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to pursue such arrangements with local businesses.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 282.3 (2003).

Cross Reference:  603      Instructional Curriculum

Approved 11/1/2004                             Reviewed 12/15/2008                           Revised                   
                                                                                            02/17/2014
                                                                                            03/18/2019

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.

Participation in a non-school sponsored activity shall not conflict with the school sponsored activity.

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 examinations 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.

Legal Reference:  34 C.F.R. Pt. 106.41 (2002).
                                      Iowa Code §§ 216.9; 280.13-.14 (2003).
                                      281 I.A.C. 12.6., 36.15.

Cross Reference:  501      Student Attendance
                                      502      Student Rights and Responsibilities
                                      503      Student Discipline
                                      504      Student Activities
                                      507      Student Health and Well-Being

Approved 11/1/2004                             Reviewed 12/15/2008                           Revised 03/17/2014
                                                                                            03/18/2019                                            11/16/2015