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 (2007).

Cross Reference:  502       Student Rights and Responsibilities
                                       504       Student Activities

Approved    2-15-2010                          
Reviewed    7-20-2015                                                                      
Revised                   

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.

Non-instructional time will mean 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 are 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 (2004).
                                       Iowa Code §§ 287.1-.3; 297.9 (2007).

Cross Reference:  502       Student Rights and Responsibilities
                                       504       Student Activities

Approved    2-15-2010                          
Reviewed   7-20-2015                                                                     
Revised                   

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 journalism, 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 (2007).

Cross Reference:  309       Communication Channels
                                       502       Student Rights and Responsibilities
                                       504       Student Activities
                                       903.5    Distribution of Material

Approved    2-15-2010                          
Reviewed     7-20-2015                                                                      
Revised                   

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 (2007).
                                       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    2-15-2010                          
Reviewed     7-20-2015                                                                      
Revised                   

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 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 (2007).

Cross Reference:  402.9    Solicitations from Outside
                                       502       Student Rights and Responsibilities
                                       503       Student Discipline
                                       504       Student Activities
                                       704.5    Student Activities Fund
                                       905.2    Advertising and Promotion

Approved    2-15-2010                          
Reviewed     7-20-2015                                                                      
Revised                  

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
athletic director. 

      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:  Boards must have a policy addressing the issue of nonschool athletic participation.

Legal Reference:  20 U.S.C. §§ 1681-1683; 1685-1686 (2004).
                                       34 C.F.R. Pt. 106.41 (2004).
                                       Iowa Code §§ 216.9; 280.13-.14 (20073).
                                       281 I.A.C. 12.6., 36.15.

Cross Reference:  501       Student Attendance
                                       502       Student Rights and Responsibilities
                                       503       Student Discipline
                                       504       Student Activities
                                       507       Student Health and Well-Being

Approved    2-15-2010                          
Reviewed      7-20-2015                                                                     
Revised                                                 

All social events shall be under the control and supervision of professional school personnel.  Approval for an event shall be secured from the principal of the building involved
and placed on the school calendar before any public announcement is made.  Rules concerning hours, behavior, and activities related to social events will be developed by the
building principal and staff members directly related to the activity and shall be reasonable and proper.

Legal Reference:  20 U.S.C. §§ 1681-1683; 1685-1686 (2004).
                                       34 C.F.R. Pt. 106.41 (2004).
                                       Iowa Code §§ 216.9; 280.13-.14 (20073).
                                       281 I.A.C. 12.6., 36.15.

Cross Reference:  503       Student Discipline
                                       504       Student Activities

Approved    2-15-2010                          
Reviewed      7-20-2015                                                                     
Revised