| Southern Local School District |
| Administrative Guidelines |
9700D - CONTESTS FOR STUDENTS
On occasion, the District receives requests for contests in the schools. The Board of Education recognizes the merit of some of these requests and appreciates the interest in the schools evidenced by local, State, and national organizations. At the same time, the Board recognizes its responsibility for maintaining a planned, balanced educational program and will neither approve nor condone contest activities tending to disrupt or be unrelated to the planned program of instruction at a given time.
Therefore, it is the policy of the Board that while students may participate in educational contests sponsored by non-school organizations, requests for permission to conduct such contests or for student participation therein under school auspices must be made to the Superintendent and be conducted in accordance with the regulations of this District.
In the consideration for approval of student contests, the following criteria shall prevail:
| A. | sponsoring organizations may be required to accept an alternate program when the number of contests becomes too great, | |
| B. | contests will be authorized only if locally sponsored; if a local branch of a national organization does not exist, or is not interested in sponsoring the contest, the contest will not be authorized, | |
| C. | a minimum of four (4) weeks notice shall be required to ensure proper planning, | |
| D. | participation in contests shall be on a volunteer basis and no pressure shall be brought to bear by the sponsoring organization. |