PUBLIC EXAMINATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICT RECORDS

Public records of the school district may be viewed by the public during the regular business hours of the administration offices of the school district. These hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for holidays and recesses.

Persons wishing to view the school district's public records will contact the board secretary and make arrangements for the viewing. The board secretary will make arrangements for viewing the records as soon as practicable, depending on the nature of the request.

Persons may request copies of public records by telephone or in writing, including electronically. The school district may require pre-payment of the costs prior to copy and mailing.

Persons wanting copies may be assessed a fee for the copy. Persons wanting compilation of information may be assessed a fee for the time of the employee to compile the requested information. Printing of materials for the public at the expense of the school district will only occur when the event is sponsored by the school district.

Records defined by law as confidential records are viewed or copied upon receipt of written permission by the board secretary or superintendent from the person or entity whose confidential records are being requested. Access may be restricted and certain records may remain confidential if their disclosure could jeopardize the safety of persons or property.

It is the responsibility of the board secretary to maintain accurate and current records of the school district. It is the responsibility of the board secretary to respond in a timely manner to requests for viewing and receiving public information of the school district.

VISITORS TO SCHOOL DISTRICT BUILDINGS & SITES

The board welcomes the interest of parents and other members of the school district community and invites them to visit 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.

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 shall not take time from their duties to discuss matters with visitors.

Visitors shall 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. Children who wish to visit school must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult.

It shall be the responsibility of employees to report inappropriate conduct. It shall be 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 shall act to cease the inappropriate conduct.

PUBLIC CONDUCT ON SCHOOL PREMISES

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 consequences 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. 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 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. 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 of the superintendent. 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 their 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.

DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIALS

The Board recognizes that students, employees, parents or citizens may want to distribute materials within the school district that are non-curricular. Non­curricular materials to be distributed must be approved by the building principal and meet certain standards prior to their distribution.

 

DISTRIBUTION OR DISPLAY OF MATERIALS REGULATION

I.          Guidelines

Students have the right to exercise freedom of speech.  This includes the right to distribute, at reasonable times and places, unofficial written material, petitions, buttons, badges or other insignia, except expression which:

            (a)        is obscene to minors;

            (b)        is libelous;

            (c)        contains indecent, vulgar, profane or lewd language;

            (d)        advertises any product or service not permitted to minors by law;

            (e)        constitutes insulting or fighting words, the very expression of which injures or harasses other people (e.g., threats of violence, defamation of character or of a person’s race, religion, gender, disability, age or ethnic origin);

            (f)        presents a clear and present likelihood that, either because of its content or the manner of distribution or display, it will cause a material and substantial disruption of the proper and orderly operation and discipline of the school or school activities, will cause the commission of unlawful acts or the violation of lawful school regulations.

Distribution or display on school premises of material in categories (a) through (d) above to any student is prohibited.  Distribution or display on school premises of material in categories (e) and (f) above to a substantial number of students is prohibited.

II.         Procedures

Anyone wishing to distribute unofficial written material must first submit for approval a copy of the material to the building principal at least twenty-four hours in advance of the desired distribution or display time, together with the following information:

1. The name and phone number of the person submitting the request, and if the person is a student, the student’s grade and homeroom; 
2. The date(s) and time(s) of day of the intended display or distribution;
3. The location(s) where the material will be displayed or distributed;
4. The grade(s) of the students to whom the display or distribution is intended.

Within twenty-four hours of submission, the principal will render a decision whether the material violates the guidelines in subsection I or the time, place, and manner restrictions in subsection III of this policy.  In the event that permission to distribute the material is denied, the person submitting the request should be informed in writing of the reasons for the denial.  Permission to distribute or display material does not imply approval of its contents by either the school, the administration, the board or the individual reviewing the material submitted.

If the person submitting the request does not receive a response within twenty-four hours of submission, the person shall contact the building principal’s office to verify that the lack of response was not due to an inability to locate the person.  If the person has made this verification and there is no response to the request, the material may be distributed in accordance with the time, place, and manner provisions in subsection III.

If the person is dissatisfied with the decision of the principal, the person may submit a written request for appeal to the superintendent.  If the person does not receive a response within three school days of submitting the appeal, the person shall contact the superintendent to verify that the lack of response is not due to an inability to locate the person.  If the person has made this verification and there is no response to the appeal, the material may be distributed in accordance with the time, place, and manner provisions in subsection III.

At every level of the process, the person submitting the request shall have the right to appear and present the reasons, supported by relevant witnesses and material, as to why distribution or display of the written material is appropriate.

Permission to distribute or display material does not imply approval of its contents by either the school district, the board, the administration or the individual reviewing the material submitted.

III.        Time, Place, and Manner of Distribution

The distribution or display of written materials is prohibited when it negatively affects the safety of students on school premises or otherwise disrupts school activities.  The distribution or display of unofficial material shall be limited to a reasonable time, place, and manner as follows:

1. The material shall be displayed at or distributed from a table set up for the purpose in a location designated by the principal.  The location shall not block the safe flow of traffic, block the corridors or entrance ways or negatively affect the safety of students and shall give reasonable access to students.
2. The material shall be distributed or displayed either before and/or after the regular instructional day.
3. No written material may be displayed or distributed during and at the place of a normal school activity if it is reasonably likely to cause a material and substantial disruption of the activity.

IV.        Definitions

The following definitions apply to the terms used in this policy:

            1.         “Obscene to minors” is defined as:

                        (a)        The average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find that the written material, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest of minors of the age to whom distribution is requested;

                       (b)        The material depicts or describes, in a manner that is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community concerning how such conduct should be presented to minors of the age to whom distribution is requested, sexual conduct such as intimate sexual acts (normal or perverted), masturbation, excretory functions, and lewd exhibition of the genitals; and

                       (c)        The material, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for minors.

            2.         “Minor” means any person under the age of eighteen.

            3.         “Material and substantial disruption” of a normal school activity is defined as follows:

                       (a)        Where the normal school activity is an educational program of the district for which student attendance is compulsory, “material and substantial disruption” is defined as any disruption which interferes with or impedes the implementation of that program.

                       (b)        Where the normal school activity is voluntary in nature (including, without limitation, school athletic events, school plays and concerts, and lunch periods), “material and substantial disruption” is defined as student rioting, unlawful seizures of property, widespread shouting or boisterous demonstrations, sit-ins, stand-ins, walk-outs or other related forms of activity.

In order for expression to be considered disruptive, there must exist specific facts upon which the likelihood of disruption can be forecast including past experience in the school, current events influencing student activities and behavior, and instances of actual or threatened disruption relating to the written material in question.

            4.         “School activities” means any activity of students sponsored by the school and includes, by way of example, but not limited to, classroom work, library activities, physical education classes, official assemblies and other similar gatherings, school athletic contests, band concerts, school plays, and in-school lunch periods.

            5.         “School premises” means school district property and/or property within the jurisdiction of the school district and school owned and/or operated transportation.  “School premises” includes, but is not limited to, school buildings, school grounds, school busses, and locations under the jurisdiction of the school district where school activities are held.

            6.         “Unofficial written material” includes all written material except school newspapers, literary magazines, yearbooks, and other publications funded and/or sponsored or authorized by the school.  Examples include leaflets, brochures, fliers, petitions, placards, and underground newspapers, whether written by students or others.

            7.         “Libelous” is a false and unprivileged statement about a specific individual that tends to harm the individual’s reputation or to lower him or her in the esteem of the community.

            8.         “Distribution” means circulation or dissemination of written material by means of handing out free copies, selling or offering copies for sale and accepting donations for copies.  It includes displaying written material in areas of the school which are generally frequented by students.

V.         Disciplinary Action

Distribution by any student of unofficial written material prohibited in subsection I or in violation of subsection III may be halted and students may be subject to discipline including suspension and expulsion.  Any other party violating this policy may be requested to leave the school premises immediately, and if necessary, local law enforcement officials will be contacted.

VI.        Notice of Policy to Students

A copy of this policy will be published in student handbooks or posted conspicuously in school buildings.

TRANSPORTING STUDENTS IN PRIVATE VEHICLES

Generally, transporting students for school purposes shall be done in a vehicle owned by the school district and driven by a school employee. Students may be transported, in extreme cases, by private vehicles for school purposes. It shall be within the discretion of the superintendent, or designated official, to determine when this is appropriate.

Individuals transporting students for school purposes in private vehicles must have the permission of the superintendent and/or building principal and proof of insurance.  In the case where students must travel to a non-school facility for the purpose of a regularly scheduled practice, because no suitable school owned facility is available, parental permission shall be provided in writing for an individual student to drive their own vehicle to said practice. No passengers outside the student driver's immediate family will be permitted. The school district assumes no responsibility for those students who have not received the approval of the superintendent and/or building principal and who ride in private vehicles for school purposes. This policy statement applies to transportation of students for school purposes in addition to transporting students to and from their designated attendance center.

ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION

The use of students, the school district name or its buildings and sites for advertising and promoting products and/or services of entities and organizations operating for a profit shall be disallowed except with prior board approval. Non-profit entities and organizations may be allowed to use students, the school district name or its buildings and sites if the purpose is educationally related and prior approval has been obtained from the board.

It shall be the responsibility of the entities that wish to use the school district's ICN classroom to originate, receive or broadcast programming in compliance with the law regarding authorized use of and content of the programming on the ICN. The school district assumes no responsibility or liability for entities using the ICN classroom in violation of the law, the authorized user's mission or school district policy and its supporting administrative regulations. The school district reserves the right to charge all costs, including attorney fees, that may arise to the entity for the entity's failure to comply with the law or school district policy and its supporting administrative regulations.

The Board may allow non-profit groups, such as Boy/Girl Scouts, 4-H, etc. to use the buildings and sites without charge. While such groups may use the buildings and sites without charge, they may be required to pay a custodial fee as so defined on the district's rental agreement "For Use of School Property."

USE OF SCHOOL DISTRICT FACILITIES REGULATION

1. There shall be no alcoholic beverages brought to or consumed in the buildings or on the grounds.
2. The use of nicotine products in school facilities and on school grounds shall be prohibited.
3. A custodian or employee may be present while the facility is being used.
4. After a school building has been used by an outside group, cleaning, including restoring the facility or site to the condition it was in prior to its use, will be done by employees assisted by a committee from the outside group. Fees for such work will be charged to the group as part of the rental fee charged for the use of the building. However, if excessive costs are involved in cleaning or otherwise restoring the facility or site to the condition it was in prior to its use, the Board reserves the right to charge the entity for these excessive costs.
5. After school district equipment has been used by an entity, the equipment must be returned to the school district in the condition it was in prior to its use. The fee charged to the entity for the use of the equipment will include these costs. However, if excessive costs are involved in restoring the equipment to the condition it was in prior to its use, the Board reserves the right to charge the entity for these excessive costs.
6. Entities are required to stay within the area of the school district facility or site and use only the school district equipment authorized by the school district for use by the entity. Other school district facilities, sites, or areas in the school district building or equipment are off limits to the entity.
7. Serve Safe certified nutrition services kitchen staff is required to be present when food is being prepared and served to ensure the safe handling, preparation, and holding of food. Also, safe use of equipment and proper sanitization of surfaces, utensils, and dishes. All per the Iowa Food Code and per food license.

A $25 deposit is required at the time of application to reserve the facility. The deposit will be applied to the cost of the facility rental. School and non-profit groups that directly benefit district students will be exempt from the deposit. A cancellation after the facility or equipment is made ready for the entity shall result in a loss of deposit. Cancellation made prior to that time shall be charged a minimum cancellation fee or the costs incurred to the school district in anticipation of the entity's use, whichever is greater.

ICN ROOM USE REGULATION

The ICN is a statewide telecommunications network designed primarily to enhance learning opportunities for students, employees and board members. The school district recognizes that it is not the only authorized user of the ICN and other users will frequently be using the school district's !GI facilities. Sponsored and authorized users of the ICN must comply with state and federal law in using the ICN.

The Technology Coordinator is responsible for coordinating ICN classroom use. Requests for use of the lCN classroom by employees for the educational program shall be filed with the Technology Coordinator.

It shall be tile responsibility of the entity using the ICN classroom to comply with tile requirements of the law and school district policy and its supporting administrative regulations.

1. The ICN is a limited access network and sponsored or authorized users cannot use the system for profit making ventures.
2. The use must be consistent with the mission of the sponsored or authorized user.
3. Users cannot “re-sell” time on the ICN.
4. Sponsored and authorized users are responsible for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Iowa Civil Rights Act. Sponsored and authorized users are responsible for making the necessary accommodations and are responsible for obtaining and paying for needed interpreters or interpretive equipment.
5. Sponsored and authorized users are required to stay within the ICN classroom and use the most direct route to the ICN classroom. Other school district facilities, sites, areas in the school district building or equipment are off limits to the authorized users.
6. The charge for use of the ICN room will be reviewed by each request.
7. The ICN will be available Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m., to 10:30 p.m. and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
8. The sponsored or authorized user is responsible for all site and site usage charges.
9. A school district employee will be present in the school district facility while the ICN is in use.
10. Food and drink is not permitted in the ICN room.
11. First time use of the ICN will require prior training and should be organized through the school district ICN scheduler at 641-446-4816.
12. Use or transmission of copyrighted material, without prior approval of the copyright holder, is strictly prohibited. Appropriate use of the copyrighted material is the responsibility of the sponsored or authorized user, not the school district.
13. The school district reserves the right to amend these rules as necessary to reflect the ICN's usage and changes at the state or federal level.
14. The school district reserves the right to charge all costs, including attorneys' fees, that may arise to the authorized user for the sponsored or authorized user's failure to comply with the law, board policy and administrative regulation.

TOBACCO AND NICOTINE PRODUCTS-FREE ENVIRONMENT

The use of tobacco and nicotine products; including, but not limited to, cigarettes, nicotine chew, snus, dissolvables, electronic cigarettes, any electronic or other devices that can be used to deliver nicotine to the person inhaling from the device, any other look-alike products in which the original product would include tobacco and/or nicotine and/or other nicotine products that are not approved by the Federal Drug Administration for tobacco cessation; on district property; including in district buildings, on district grounds, in district transportation vehicles, or at any district activity; is prohibited. 

This policy extends to all students, employees, volunteers and visitors.  This policy applies at all times, including during school-sponsored events and during non-school-sponsored events.

Persons violating this policy shall be asked to cease using the tobacco and/or nicotine product, properly dispose of the tobacco and/or nicotine product and refrain from using tobacco and/or nicotine products in the future.  Persons failing to abide by this request shall be required to leave the district premises immediately.

It shall be the responsibility of all district personnel, and specifically district administrators, to enforce this policy.