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 (2013).
Cross Reference: 502 Student Rights and Responsibilities
504 Student Activities
Approved March 19, 2007 Reviewed 11/11/2015 Revised
Board Policy East Buchanan Community Schools
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 (2012).
Iowa Code §§ 287.1-.3; 297.9 (2013).
Cross Reference: 502 Student Rights and Responsibilities
504 Student Activities
Approved March 19, 2007 Reviewed November 11, 2015 Revised
Board Policy East Buchanan Community Schools
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 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 (2013).
Cross Reference: 309 Communication Channels
502 Student Rights and Responsibilities
504 Student Activities
903.5 Distribution of Material
Approved March 19, 2007 Reviewed November 11, 2015 Revised
Board Policy East Buchanan Community Schools
A. Official school publications defined.
An "official school publication" is material produced by students in the 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 502.4.
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.
Approved March 19, 2007 Reviewed 11/11/15 Revised______________
Board Policy East Buchanan Community Schools
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 (2013).
281 I.A.C. 12.6.
Cross Reference: 502 Student Rights and Responsibilities
503.4 Good Conduct Rule
504 Student Activities
905 Community Activities Involving Students
Approved March 19, 2007 Reviewed 11/11/15 Revised
Students may raise funds for school-sponsored events with the permission of the school board. The school board delegates to the superintendent the authority to approve routine student fundraising as deemed appropriate. Collection boxes for school fund raising must have prior approval from the school board or its designee before being placed on school property.
All funds generated from district-sponsored student fundraising will be placed in the district’s student activity fund.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, 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
Cross Reference:
502 Student Rights and Responsibilities
503 Student Discipline
504 Student Activities
704.5 Student Activities Fund
905.2 Advertising and Promotion
Approved March 19, 2007
Reviewed November 11, 2015
Revised August 10, 2022
Board Policy East Buchanan Community Schools
Policy No. 504.5: Students may raise funds for school-sponsored events with the permission of the Principal. Fund raising by students for events other than school-sponsored events is not allowed. Collection boxes for school fund raising must have prior approval from the Principal before being placed on school property.
All school organizations wanting to sponsor a fund raising activity must complete the following form and receive the Principal’s approval. Successful activities require advanced planning, thus, an activity request form should be submitted to the superintendent two weeks prior to the activity. The form should be completed by the organization’s leader (coach or sponsor), and verified with the signature of the sponsor(s).
Class or School Group:__________________________________Date of Request:_____________________
Type of Fund raising activity:________________________________________________________________
Supervision/Supervisor(s) for the Activity:____________________________________________________
Date(s) of Activity:__________________________ Facility to be used:_____________________________
Projected Start-Up Cost:______________________________ Projected Profit:_______________________
Purpose for Funds Raised:
RESPONSIBILITIES OF SPONSOR/TEACHER:
It is the responsibility of the sponsor/coach to be sure each participating adult & student understands the rules and procedures for handling merchandise/cash.
The sponsor/teacher will complete any forms required (i.e., Fund Raiser Request/Summary, Facility Use, Purchase Orders, Cash Box/Merchandise Inventory, etc.) and submitted to the Superintendent.
PROJECTED REVENUE & EXPENSES:
Revenue: Expenses:
Registration Fees: $______________per student Advertising: $___________________
# of students: $_______________ T-shirts: $___________________
Total revenue: $______________ Guest Instructor Fee:$______________
Other supplies: $_______________
Facility Rental: $__________________ (if applicable)
Total revenue: $________________ Total expenses: $________________
___________________________________________ ______________________________________________
Board Policy East Buchanan Community Schools
Student fundraising can enhance a student’s educational experience but it must not be at the expense of the safety and education of the district’s students. The following are additional regulations to assist the administration in developing procedures necessary for successful fundraising efforts.
Safety:
Fiscal Responsibility:
Advertising/Promotion:
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 with approval of the high school principal.
Such outside participation shall not conflict with the school sponsored athletic activity.
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: Boards must have a policy addressing the issue of non-school athletic participation.
Legal Reference: 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681-1683; 1685-1686 (2012).
34 C.F.R. Pt. 106.41 (2012).
Iowa Code §§ 216.9; 280.13-.14 (2013).
281 I.A.C. 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 March 19, 2007 Reviewed November 11, 2015 Revised
Board Policy East Buchanan Community Schools