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

Cross Reference:   
502    Student Rights and Responsibilities
504    Student Activities

Approved June 20, 2022    Reviewed                        Revised                  

 

Secondary school student-initiated, noncurriculum-related groups and student curriculum-related groups, upon receiving permission from the principal, may use school facilities for group meetings during non-instructional time.

Non-instructional time will mean any time before the first period of the day and after the last period of the day in which any student attends class.  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.

Noncurriculum-Related Organizations

Student-initiated, noncurriculum-related organizations are provided access to meeting space and school district facilities.

Only students may attend and participate in meetings of noncurriculum-related groups.  Such attendance is strictly voluntary and student-initiated.  As a means of determining whether a student's attendance is voluntary, the principal may require parental consent for the student to attend the meetings.

Employees will be assigned to monitor approved meetings.  Employees will not participate in the meeting or assist in planning, criticizing, or encouraging attendance.  Only students may be involved in and attend the noncurriculum group's meetings.

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

 

NOTE:  This policy reflects the protection given nonschool-sponsored student groups in the federal Equal Access Act.  Option I should be used by school districts that have noncurricular, school-sponsored organizations.

 

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 June 20, 2022    Reviewed                        Revised                  

 

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.
281 I.A.C. 12.6.

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

Approved June 20, 2022    Reviewed                        Revised                  

 

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 if outside of the regular school year.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations for each school activity.  These regulations will 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.

Note:  This is a mandatory policy.  Boards must have a policy addressing the issue of nonschool athletic participation.

 

 

Legal Reference:   
20 U.S.C. §§ 1681-1683; 1685-1686.
34 C.F.R. Pt. 106.41
Iowa Code §§ 216.9; 280.13-.14.
281 I.A.C. 12.3(6), 12.6., 36.15(7).

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

Approved June 20, 2022    Reviewed                        Revised