9700 - RELATIONS WITH SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

Mt. Pleasant Public Schools

Bylaws & Policies

Any request from civic institutions, charitable organizations, or special interest groups which involve such activities as patriotic functions, contests, exhibits, sales of products to and by students, sending promotional materials home with students, graduation prizes, fund raising, and free teaching materials must be carefully reviewed to ensure that such activities promote student interests without advancing the special interests of any particular group.

It is the policy of the Board of Education that students, staff members, and District facilities not be used for advertising or promoting the interests of any nonschool agency or organization, public or private, without the approval of the Board or its delegated representative; 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. Furthermore, it shall be the general practice of this District to deny the distribution of materials by any non-tax supported public agency, unless such materials are from a nonprofit secular organization and have an exceptional positive impact on the accomplishment of the mission of the District.

Political/Commercial Interests

All materials or activities proposed by outside political or commercial sources for student or staff use or participation shall be reviewed by the Superintendent on the basis of their educational contribution to part or all of the school program, benefit to students, and/or good taste, 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 which contain commercial messages providing the content of such messages and the manner of presentation have been approved by the Superintendent and are in compliance with the District's administrative guidelines.

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 aims of the District.

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:

		1.	have the primary effect of advancing a special product, group, or company;
		2.	make unreasonable demands upon the time and energies of staff or students or upon the resources of the District;
		3.	interrupt the regular school program;
		4.	involve any direct cost to the District;
		5.	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

No outside organization or staff member or student representing an outside organization may distribute or post literature on that organization's behalf on District property either during or after school hours without the permission and prior review of the Superintendent.

The Superintendent shall establish administrative guidelines which ensure that:

		1.	criteria established in Policy 5722 - Student Publications and Productions are used to make a decision regarding materials that students seek to post or distribute;
		2.	distribution or posting of materials employees wish to distribute on behalf of an employee organization comply with the terms of negotiated, collective-bargaining agreements;
		3.	no materials from any profit-making organization are distributed for students to take home to their parents unless authorized by the Superintendent;
		4.	no materials shall be distributed to students which do not serve to promote to an exceptional degree the accomplishment of the mission of the Mt. Pleasant Public Schools.

Solicitation of Funds

Any outside organization or staff member representing an outside organization desiring to solicit funds on school property must receive permission to do so from the Superintendent.

Permission to solicit funds will be granted only to those organizations or individuals who meet the permission criteria established in the District's administrative guidelines. Solicitation must take place at such times and places and in such a manner as specified in the administrative guidelines. In accordance with Board Policy 5830, no District student may participate in the solicitation without the Superintendent's approval.

		1.	The Board disclaims all responsibility for the protection of, or accounting for, such funds.
		2.	Solicited funds are not to be deposited in any regular or special accounts of the District.
		3.	A copy of this policy as well as the relevant administrative guidelines shall be given to any individual granted permission to solicit funds on District property.
		4.	This policy does not apply to the raising of funds for District-sponsored or school-sponsored activities.

Prizes/Scholarships

The Board is appreciative of the generosity of organizations which offer scholarships or prizes to deserving students in this District. But, in accepting the offer of such scholarships or prizes, the Board directs that these guidelines be observed:

		1.	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 under the age of eighteen (18) in accordance with the Board's policy on student records.
		2.	The type of scholarship or prize, the criteria for selection of the winner, and any restrictions upon it shall be approved by the Superintendent and/or principal.
		3.	The principal, together with a committee of staff members designated by the principal, shall be involved in the selection of the recipient.

Surveys and Questionnaires

Neither District-related nor nondistrict-related organizations shall be allowed to administer a survey or questionnaire to students or staff unless the instrument and the proposed plan is submitted, in advance, to the Superintendent. If approved, a copy of the results and the proposed manner of their communication are to be provided to him/her for review and approval before they are released.

Revised 10/17/94
Revised 1/27/03