The student senate/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 senate/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.
Date Board Approved: 8/12/2010
Date Board Updated/Reviewed: 03/14/2022
Legal Reference: Iowa Code § 279.8 .
Secondary school student-initiated, non-curriculum-related groups and student curriculum-related groups, upon receiving permission from school administration, 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 school administration 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 school administration 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.
Non-curriculum-Related Organizations
Student-initiated, non-curriculum-related organizations are provided access to meeting space and school district facilities.
Only students may attend and participate in meetings of non-curriculum-related groups. Such attendance is strictly voluntary and student-initiated. As a means of determining whether a student's attendance is voluntary, the school administration 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 non-curriculum group's meetings.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with school administration, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.
Date Board Approved: 8/12/2010
Date Board Updated/Reviewed: 03/14/2022
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.
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 school administration, 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 school administration to determine whether the event will benefit the education program and the participating students. Contests or other performances by students unapproved by the school administration are the responsibility of the parent and the student.
Date Board Approved: 8/12/2010
Date Board Updated/Reviewed: 03/14/2022
Legal Reference: Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, 484 U.S. 260 (1988).
Iowa Code §§ 280.13-.14 (2013).
281 I.A.C. 12.6.
The Schleswig Board of Education believes fundraising campaigns, including crowdfunding campaigns, may further the interests of the district. Students and/or employees may raise funds for school-sponsored events with the permission of the superintendent or designee. Any person or entity acting on behalf of the district and wishing to conduct a fundraising campaign for the benefit of the district shall begin the process by seeking prior approval from the superintendent or designee. Money or items raised by a fundraising campaign of any sort will be the property of the district, and will be used only in accordance with the terms for which they were given. Approval of requests shall depend on factors including, but not limited to:
• Compatibility with the district’s educational program, mission, vision, core values, and beliefs;
• Congruence with the district and school goals that positively impact student performance;
• The district’s instructional priorities;
• The manner in which donations are collected and distributed;
• Equity in funding; and
• Other factors deemed relevant or appropriate by the district.
If approved, the requestor shall be responsible for preparing all materials and information related to the fundraising campaign and keeping district administration apprised of the status of the campaign. The requestor is responsible for compliance with all state and federal laws and other relevant district policies and procedures. All items and money generated are subject to the same controls and regulations as other district property and shall be deposited or inventoried accordingly. No money raised or items purchased shall be distributed to individual employees. It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with school administration, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.
Date Board Approved: 8/12/2010
Date Board Updated/Reviewed: 03/14/2022
Legal Reference: Senior Class of Pekin High School v. Tharp, 154 N.W.2d 874 (Iowa 1967).
Iowa Code § 279.8 (2013).
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 school administration. Such outside participation will not conflict with the school sponsored athletic activity.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent or superintendent’s designee 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.
Date Board Approved: 8/12/2010
Date Board Updated/Reviewed: 03/14/2022
Legal Reference: 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681-1683; 1685-1686 (2012).
34 C.F.R. Pt. 106.41 (2012).
Iowa Code §§ 216.9; 280.13-.14 (2013).
281 I.A.C. 12.3(6), 12.6., 36.15(7).