Code No. 504.2

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Students and staff members may apply to form a school-sponsored student organization.  Applications shall be made to the building principal who shall make a recommendation to the Superintendent, stating the purpose and the objectives of the organization.  No student organization shall be school-sponsored unless approval has been given by the Board of Directors and a District-approved sponsor is appointed.  No religious or political group shall be school-sponsored.

Secondary school student-initiated groups which are not school-sponsored may meet on school premises during non-instructional time.  The meetings shall be strictly voluntary on the part of the students, may not interfere with the orderly conduct of school activities, and shall take place before school classes begin or after school classes end.  The time and place of the meetings shall be approved in advance by the building principal, or its designee, and the meetings must be supervised.  Non-school persons may not direct, conduct, control or regularly attend the meetings.  Employees of the District may attend student-initiated groups organized for political or religious purposes only in a custodial capacity and shall not plan, encourage attendance, criticize or in any way participate in such meetings if the meetings occur during the employee’s work day.  The District shall not deny student-initiated groups the right to use school facilities pursuant to this section on the basis of the religious, political, philosophical, or other content of the speech; however, all meetings must be lawful.  Student-initiated groups which are not school-sponsored shall not use the school name, mascot, or other sign or symbol that might imply District sponsorship.  Any announcements regarding student-initiated groups shall indicate that they are not school-sponsored.

Date of Last Review:  October 14, 2019

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DECORAH COMMUNITY SCHOOL BOARD OF DIRECTORS