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.
Approved: 2/10/1997 Reviewed: 03/18/2024 Revised: 03/18/2024
Secondary school student-initiated, noncurriculum-related groups and student curriculum-related groups, upon receiving permission from the principal, may use school facilities for group meetings during non-instructional time.
With permission of the principal, student organizations may meet during plus period, any time before the first period of the day and after the last period of the day in which any student attends class. Meetings will not interfere with the orderly conduct of the education program or other school district operations. It is within the discretion of the principal to determine whether the meetings will interfere with the orderly conduct of the education program or other school district operations. Activities relating to and part of the education program will have priority over the activities of another organization.
Curriculum-Related Organizations
It will also be the responsibility of the 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?
Secondary school curriculum-related student organizations may use the school district facilities for meetings and other purposes before and after the instructional school day. Employees are assigned to monitor approved meetings and may interact with curriculum-related organizations.
Noncurriculum-Related Organizations
Student-initiated, noncurriculum-related organizations provided access to meeting space and school district facilities.
Only students may attend and participate in meetings of noncurriculum-related groups. Such attendance is strictly voluntary and student-initiated. As a means of determining whether a student's attendance is voluntary, the principal may require parental consent for the student to attend the meetings.
Employees will be assigned to monitor approved meetings. Employees will not participate in the meeting or assist in planning, criticizing, or encouraging attendance. Only students may be involved in and attend the noncurriculum group's meetings.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.
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.
Iowa Code §§ 287; 297.9.
Approved: 2/10/1997 Reviewed: 03/18/2024 Revised: 03/18/2024
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 building principal, 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.
281 I.A.C. 12.6.
Cross Reference:
503.4 Good Conduct Rule
Approved: 2/10/1997 Reviewed: 03/18/2024 Revised: 03/18/2024
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.
It shall be 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 ß 279.8 (1995).
Cross Reference:
502 Student Rights and Responsibilities
503 Student Discipline
504 Student Activities
704.5 Student Activities Fund
904.5 Advertising and Promotion
Approved: 2/10/97 Reviewed: 1/9/2018 Revised:
Foods Sold Outside the Meal
Foods and beverages sold individually outside the reimbursable meal programs (including a la carte) during the school day should meet the following nutrition and portion-size standards:
Beverages that are encouraged: Water, seltzer, water without added caloric sweeteners, fruit and vegetable juices, fruit drinks containing 100% fruit juice, unflavored or flavored low-fat or fat-free milk.
Beverages that are to be discouraged: Sports drinks, beverages with caffeine excluding low-fat or fat-free chocolate milk.
Food items should have
To support children’s health and school nutrition-education efforts, school fundraising activities will be encouraged to promote physical activity and healthful eating choices and will comply with the Healthy Kids Act (No bake sales, unless meet HKA and Smart Snacks dietary guidelines from midnight until 30 minutes from the last bell).
The school district will encourage staff to not use foods or beverages, especially those that do not meet the nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold individually, as rewards for academic performance or good behavior, and will not withhold food or beverages as a punishment.
Food Marketing in Schools
School-based marketing will be consistent with nutrition education and health promotion. The district will encourage school marketing of brands promoting healthy foods, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products and market activities that promote healthful behaviors.
Classroom Snacks/Parties
Snacks served in the classroom should be fresh fruit/vegetables or prepackaged items (Prepackaged: items that are prepared in a licensed facility). No home prepared food products. The School district will encourage non-food items as treats. Beverages offered in the classroom or as a snack should be water, milk or 100% fruit/vegetable juice.
Communication with Parents
The school district will:
Sharing of Foods
The school district discourages students from sharing their foods or beverages with one another during meal or snack times, given concerns about allergies and other restrictions on some children’s diets.
Plan for Measuring Implementation
Monitoring
The superintendent or designated staff member will ensure compliance with established school district-wide nutrition and physical activity wellness policies. The district will
In each school:
The Wellness Committee shall be appointed each year. Membership will include:
Policy Review
Program review will be completed every 4 years. This will include but not limited to review policy compliance, assessing progress toward school goals and determining areas in need of improvement. As part of that review, the school district will review the nutrition and physical activity policies and practices and the provision of an environment that supports healthy eating and physical activity. The school district will revise the wellness policies and develop work plans to facilitate their implementation.
Approved: 9/17/97 Reviewed: 1/9/2018 Revised: 10/12/15
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 superintendent.
Such outside participation will 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: This is a mandatory policy. Boards must have a policy addressing the issue of nonschool athletic participation.
Legal Reference: 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681-1683; 1685-1686.
34 C.F.R. Pt. 106.41.
Iowa Code §§ 216.9; 280.13-.14.
281 I.A.C. 12.6., 12.6., 36.15(7)
Cross Reference:
507.09 Wellness
507.09R1 Wellness - Regulation
Approved: 2/10/1997 Reviewed: 03/18/2024 Revised: 03/18/2024
Events in which students participate during school hours or as representatives of the school but at places outside of the school must be sponsored and supervised by professional school personnel. Rules of behavior shall be the same as at any in-school activity or event.
The Board of Directors has no responsibility or accountability for any school child when the child is in the custody and control of his/her parents or other agencies.
Approved 2/10/1997 Reviewed 03/18/2024 Revised