9700 - RELATIONS WITH NON-SCHOOL AFFILIATED GROUPS
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 non-school related agency or organization, public or private, without the approval of the Superintendent 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 crowdfunding activities are subject to Policy 6605 - Crowdfunding.
No non-school affiliated group may use the name, logo, mascot, or any other name or slogan that would associate an activity with the District without the specific written permission of the Superintendent. Additionally, no non-school affiliated group may use any assets of the District, including, but not limited to, facilities, technology, or communication networks, without the specific written permission of the Superintendent.
School District Referendum Advocacy
This policy applies expressly to any outside organization's advocacy concerning School District referenda. Any such organization, whether advocating in favor of or in opposition to a referendum question must clearly identify themselves as independent of the School District and may not, under any circumstances, use School District logos, mascots, slogans, or other such items that are protected by or regularly used and identified with the District. School District officials may not advocate for a position on a referendum in any manner in which such advocacy is in the individual's capacity as a School District official or may reasonably be perceived as such. School District officials may always provide factual information concerning any referendum question.
Other Activities by Non-School Affiliated Groups
- Materials or Activities
All materials or activities proposed by outside organizations for student or staff use or participation shall be reviewed by the Superintendent on the basis of the proposed activities or materials educational contribution to part or all of the school program and/or benefit to students and no such approval shall have the primary purpose of advancing the name, product, or special interest of the proposing group.
The Board shall permit the use of educational materials, programs, and equipment that contain commercial messages, provided that the content of such messages and the manner of presentation have been approved by the Superintendent.
Outside speakers representing commercial organizations will be welcome only when the commercial aspect is limited to naming the organization represented and the subject matter advances the educational interests of the District's students. - 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;
- interrupt the regular school program;
- involve any direct cost to the District, 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 and Other District-Sponsored Trips has been complied with in all aspects.
- Distribution/Posting of Literature
Non-school affiliated organizations may distribute or post literature on District property either during or after school hours only with advance permission of the Superintendent.
Staff or students may be permitted to distribute/post literature regarding or on behalf of non-school sponsored organizations or activities in such a manner as described in this policy and in a manner that does not disrupt or interfere with educational activities and is not done in a manner that conveys the message of endorsement or approval of the school or District of the group or message only with the advance permission of the Superintendent.
The Superintendent will ensure that:
- criteria established in Policy 5722 - School-Sponsored Publications and Productions are used to make a decision regarding materials that students seek to post or distribute;
- 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 District will periodically review its procedures for awarding scholarships, prizes, and other awards. This review will require that the District's procedure does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, or disability in the overall effect of the scholarships, prizes, and other awards given to students.
- Surveys and Questionnaires
Distribution of Surveys and Questionnaires to Students is governed by Policy 2416 - Student Privacy and Parental Access to Information.
Revised 4/19/21
Revised 10/1/21
T.C. 7/24/23
T.C. 2/26/25
T.C. 5/18/26
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