9700 - WORKING WITH SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
Any request from civic institutions, charitable organizations, or special interest groups which involve such activities as patriotic functions, contests, exhibits, sales of products to and by students, sending promotional materials home with students, graduation prizes, fund raising, and free teaching materials must be carefully reviewed to ensure that such activities promote student interests without advancing the special interests of any particular group.
It is the policy of the Board that students, staff members, and District facilities not be used for advertising or promoting the interests of any nonschool agency or organization, public or private, without the approval of the Board or its delegated representative; and any such approval, granted for whatever cause or group, shall not be construed as an endorsement of said cause or group by this Board. All material and/or literature distribution to students must comply with Board Policy 9701 - Distribution of Materials and Literature to Students.
Pursuant to State law, a person or group may not accept a donation of public funds from the District, or any person acting on behalf of the District, for a political advertisement or electioneering communication concerning an issue, referendum, or amendment, including any State question, that is subject to a vote of the electors.
Political/Commercial Interests
All materials or activities proposed by outside sources for student or staff use or participation shall be reviewed by the principal on the basis of their educational contribution to part or all of the school program, benefit to students, or good taste and no such approval shall have the primary purpose of advancing the name, product, or special interest of the proposing group.
Contests/Exhibits
The Board recognizes that contests, exhibits, and the like may benefit individual students or the District as a whole, but participation in such special activities may not:
have the primary effect of advancing a special product, group, or company;
make unreasonable demands upon the time and energies of staff or students or upon the resources of the District;
involve any direct cost to the District;
interrupt the regular school program unless the student body as a whole derives benefit from such activities;
cause the participants to leave the School District, unless:
the Board's Policy 2340 - Field Trips and Other Student Travel - has been complied with in all aspects;
the Board has granted special permission;
the parents of a minor student have granted their permission.
Solicitation of Funds
Any outside organization or staff member representing an outside organization desiring to solicit funds on school property must receive permission to do so from the principal.
Permission to solicit funds will be granted only to those organizations or individuals who meet the permission criteria established in the District's administrative procedures. Solicitation must take place at such times and places and in such a manner as specified in the administrative procedures. In accordance with Board Policy 5830, no District student may participate in the solicitation without the principal’s approval.
The Board disclaims all responsibility for the protection of, or accounting for, such funds.
Solicited funds are not to be deposited in any regular or special accounts of the District.
A copy of this policy as well as the relevant administrative procedures shall be given to any individual granted permission to solicit funds on District property.
This policy does not apply to the raising of funds for District-sponsored or school-sponsored activities.
Prizes/Scholarship
The Board is appreciative of the generosity of organizations which offer scholarships or prizes to deserving students in this District. But, in accepting the offer of such scholarships or prizes, the Board directs that these procedures be observed:
No information, either academic or personal, shall be released from the student's record for the purpose of selecting a scholarship or prize winner without the permission of the student who is eighteen (18), or the parents of a student who is younger in accordance with the Board's policy on student records.
The type of scholarship or prize, the criteria for selection of the winner, and any restrictions upon it shall be approved by the Superintendent.
The principal, together with a committee of staff members designated by the principal, may be involved in the selection of the recipient. If agreeable to the sponsoring organization, the selection shall be left entirely to the principal and staff committee.
The scholarship or prize committee must avoid conflict of interest. There is to be an open and fair application process and judging should be honest and fair.
Sale of School Supplies
In determining the appropriateness of the sale of school supplies by organizations other than the School District, the Board requires that:
the organization have a purpose which will benefit the School District and its students;
the organization's planned activities are clearly in the best interest of the School District and its students;
the organization has submitted the following information and assurances on the form provided by the District: a statement noting the purpose of the organization, financial accountability assurances, and use of facility assurances.
All funds generated by the sale of such school supplies shall be kept separate from other activity funds or other transactions of the Board.
- Surveys and Questionnaires
Neither District-related nor nondistrict-related organizations shall be allowed to administer a survey or questionnaire to students or staff unless the instrument and the proposed plan is submitted, in advance, to the Superintendent or his/her designee. If approved, a copy of the results and the proposed manner of their communication are to be provided to him/her for review and approval before they are released.
Revised 7/20/04
Revised 4/10/07
Revised 4/27/10
Reviewed 4/25/23
© Neola 2002