8:10 Public Relations

8:20 Community Use of School Facilities

8:25 Distribution and Display of Community Flyers and Posters

8:30 Conduct On School Property

8:40 Spectator Conduct and Sportsmanship For Athletic and Extracurricular Events

8:50 Visitors To The Schools

8:60 Exclusive Bargaining Representative Agent

8:70 Accommodating Individuals With Disabilities

8:80 Gifts to the District

8:90 Parent Organizations

8:95 Parental Involvement

8:96 Volunteers

8:100 Relations With Other Organizations and Agencies

8:110 Public Complaints

Public Relations

The Superintendent is the District's chief spokesperson and shall plan, implement, and evaluate a District public relations program which will:

• develop public understanding of school operation.
• gather public attitudes and desires for the District.
• secure adequate financial support for a sound educational program.
• help citizens feel a more direct responsibility for the quality of education provided by their schools.
• earn the public's good will, respect, and confidence.
• promote a genuine spirit of cooperation between the school and the community.
• keep the news media provided with accurate information.

The public relations program should include:

1. Regular news releases concerning District programs, policies, and activities, which will be sent to the news media,
2. News conferences and interviews as requested or needed. Individuals shall not speak for the District without prior approval from the Building Principal with regard to a building issue or from the Superintendent with regard to the District,
3. Publications having a high quality of editorial content and effective format. All publications shall identify the District, school, department, or classroom and shall include the name of the Superintendent, the Building Principal, and/or the author and the publication date, and
4. Other programs which highlight the District's programs and activities.

LEGAL REF.: 23 Ill. Admin. Code § 1.210.

ADOPTED: April 20, 1999

8:10

Community Use of School Facilities

School facilities are available to the community for education, civic, cultural, and other non-commercial uses consistent with the public interest when such use does not interfere with the school program or school-sponsored activities. The use of school facilities for school purposes has precedence over all other uses. Persons on school premises must abide by the District's conduct rules at all times.

Student and school-related organizations and municipalities are granted the use of school facilities at no cost. Other organizations granted use of facilities shall pay fees and costs.

The Superintendent shall develop procedures to manage community use of school facilities. Use of school facilities requires the Superintendent's approval and is subject to the procedures.

LEGAL REF.: 20 U.S.C. §7905. 10 ILCS 5/19-2.2. 105 ILCS 5/10-22.10 and 5/29-3.5. Good News Club v. Milford Central School, 121 S.Ct. 2093 (2001) Lamb's Chapel v. Center Moriches Union Free School District, 113 S.Ct. 2141 (1993). Rosenberger v. Rector and Visitors of Univ. of Va., 515 U.S. 819 (1995).

CROSS REF.: 7:330 (Student Use of Building - Equal Access), 8:25 (Distribution and Display of Community Flyers and Posters), 8:30 (Conduct on School Property)

ADMIN. PROC.: 8:20-AP (Community Use of School Facilities)

ADOPTED: April 20, 1999

REVISED: November 18, 2002, August 16, 2004

8:20

Distribution and Display of Community Flyers and Posters

Non-school related organizations may ask the Superintendent or designee for permission: (1) to display posters in the area reserved for community posters, or (2) to have flyers distributed to students. The posters and/or flyers subject to a request must be student-oriented, be of some benefit to students, and have the sponsoring organization's name prominently displayed. Permission will be denied to post or distribute any material that would: disrupt the educational process; violate the rights of others, including material that is defamatory; invade the privacy of others; infringe on a copyright; or be obscene, vulgar, or indecent.

No commercial publications shall be posted or distributed unless their purpose is to further a school activity, such as graduation, class pictures, or class rings. No information from candidates for non-students' elective office shall be posted in the school or distributed to students.

Once permission is granted, the organization must arrange to have copies delivered to the school. Distribution of material under this policy will be done by the classroom teacher without discussion.

LEGAL REF.: Lamb's Chapel v. Center Moriches Union Free School Dist., 113 S.Ct. 2141 (1993).

Berger v. Rensselaer Central School Corp., 982 F.2d 1160 (7th Cir. 1993).

Hedges v. Wauconda Community Unit School Dist. No. 18, 9 F.3d 5 (7th Cir. 1993).

Sherman v. Community Consolidated School Dist. 21, 8 F.3d 1160 (7th Cir. 1993).

CROSS REF.: 7:325

ADOPTED: April 20, 1999

8:25

Conduct On School Property

For purposes of this policy, "school property" means school buildings, District buildings not being used as a school, vehicles used for school purposes, any location during a school athletic and other school-sponsored event, and school grounds.

Visitors are welcome on school property, provided their presence will not be disruptive. All visitors must initially report to the building Principal's office. Any person wishing to confer with a staff member must contact that staff member by telephone to make an appointment. Conferences with teachers are held outside school hours or during the teacher's conference/preparation period.

The School District expects mutual respect, civility, and orderly conduct among all individuals on school property or at a school event. No person on school property or at a school event shall:

1. Injure, threaten, harass, or intimidate a staff member, a School Board member, sports official or coach, or any other person;
2. Damage or threaten to damage another's property;
3. Damage or deface School District property;
4. Violate any Illinois law, or town or county ordinance;
5. Smoke or otherwise use tobacco products;
6. Consume, possess, distribute, or be under the influence of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs, or possess dangerous devices or weapons;
7. Impede, delay, disrupt, or otherwise interfere with any school activity or function (including using cellular phones in a disruptive manner);
8. Enter upon any portion of school premises at any time for purposes other than those which are lawful and authorized by the School Board;
9. Operate a motor vehicle: (a) in a risky manner, (b) in excess of 20 miles per hour, or (c) in violation of an authorized District employee’s directive;
10. Engage in any risky behavior, including roller-blading, roller-skating, or skateboarding; or
11. Violate other District policies or regulations, or an authorized District employee’s directive.

Convicted Child Sex Offender

State law prohibits a child sex offender from being present ion school property, or loitering with 500 feet of school property when perons under the age of 18 are present, unless the offerder is:

(A) a parent/guardian of a student attending the school and the parent/guardian is: (i) attending a conference at the school with school personnel to discuss the progress of his or her child academically or socially, (ii) participating in child review conferences in which evaluation and placement decisions may be made with respect to his or her child regarding special education services, or (iii) attending conferences to discuss other student issues concerning his or her child such as retention and promotion and notifies the Building Principal of his or her presence at the school, or

(B) Has permission to be present from the Superintendent , School Board, or Superintendent's designee. If permission is granted, the Superintendent of Board President shall provide the details of the offender’s upcoming visit to the Building Principal.

In all cases, the Superintendent, or designee who is a certified employee, shall supervise a sex offender whenever the offender is in a child’s vicinity.

Enforcement

Any staff member may request identification from any person on school grounds or in any school building; refusal to provide such information is a criminal act. The Building Principal or designee shall seek the immediate removal of any person who refuses to provide requested identification.

As circumstances warrant, the District’s administrators shall take appropriate action in enforcement of this policy. Violations will be handled as follows:

· Anyone observing a student violating this policy shall notify the Building Principal where the student is enrolled and the Principal shall take whatever action is appropriate under the student conduct code.
· The supervisor of any employee violating this policy shall take whatever action is appropriate according to personnel rules and bargaining agreements, if any.
· Anyone observing a parent/guardian or other person violating this policy shall immediately notify the Building Principal or designee. The Principal or designee will request that the person act civilly or otherwise refrain from the prohibited conduct. If the person persists with uncivil or prohibited behavior, the principal shall request that the person immediately leave school property and may contact law enforcement, if appropriate.

LEGAL REF.: Pro-Children Act of 1994, 20 U.S.C. §7181 et seq. 105 ILCS 5/10-20.5b and 5/24-24. 720 ILCS 5/11-9.3.

CROSS REF.: 6:250 (Community Resource Persons and Volunteers), 7:190 (Student Discipline), 8:20 (Community Use of School Facilities), 8:40 (Spectator Conduct and Sportsmanship for Athletic and Extracurricular Events), 8:50 (Visitors to the Schools)

ADOPTED: April 20, 1999

REVISED: May 20, 2002; December 16, 2002; April 24, 2006

8:30

Spectator Conduct and Sportsmanship For Athletic and Extracurricular Events

Any person, including adults, who behaves in an unsportsmanlike manner during an athletic or extracurricular event may be ejected from the event the person is attending and/or denied admission to school events for up to a year after a Board of Education hearing. Examples of unsportsmanlike conduct include:

• using vulgar or obscene language;
• possessing or being under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or illegal substance;
• possessing a weapon;
• fighting or otherwise striking or threatening another person;
• failing to obey the instructions of a security officer or school district employee; and
• engaging in any activity which is illegal or disruptive.

The Superintendent may seek to deny future admission to any person by delivering or mailing a notice, sent by certified mail with return receipt requested, at least 10 days before the Board of Education hearing date, containing:

1. The date, time, and place of a Board hearing;
2. A description of the unsportsmanlike conduct;
3. The proposed time period that admission to school events will be denied;
4. Instructions on how to waive a hearing.

LEGAL REF.: 105 ILCS 5/24-24.

CROSS REF.: 8:30

ADOPTED: April 20, 1999

8:40

Visitors To The Schools

The District encourages visits by Board of Education members, parent(s)/guardian(s), citizens, and taxpayers to all School District buildings. All visitors shall report to the Building Principal’s office. If a parent wishes to confer with a teacher, an appointment must be made. Conferences will be held outside school hours or during the teacher’s conference/preparation period.

Public Visitations: Members of the Public must report to Principal’s office, identify themselves and state the purpose of the visit.

Parent Visitations: Parent visitations to classrooms shall be considered appropriate at any time provided advance arrangements are made with the Principal and teacher.

Open House: Open House is a Unit 10 sponsored activity. Each school is expected to have Open House and attendance by all staff members is expected. Invitations shall be given to all parents indicating the time that each school has its Open House.

Teachers who are unable to attend shall provide a sheet for parents to sign who desire a conference with that teacher. Within one week of the Open House, the teacher will make personal contact with those parents and will notify the school administrators of such contacts.

A copy of the board Policy will be provided to each certificated employee at the beginning of the school year.

College Student Visitations: University students who wish to visit classrooms must first report their needs to the building Principal, at which time procedure for such visit can be made. If the request is of a complex nature, the Principal may refer the request to the appropriate administrator who will be responsible for the final disposition of the request. All classroom visitations must have the prior approval of the classroom teacher.

Any staff member may request identification from any person on school grounds or in any school building; refusal to provide such information is a criminal act. The Building Principal or designee shall seek the immediate removal of any person who: (1) refuses to provide requested identification, (2) interferes with, disrupts, or threatens to disrupt any school activity or the learning environment, (3) or engages in an activity in violation of Board policy 8:30, Conduct on School Property.

LEGAL REF.: 105 ILCS 5/24-25.

CROSS REF.: 8:30 (Conduct on School Property)

ADOPTED: April 20, 1999

REVISED: May 20, 2002

8:50

LEGAL REF.: 105 ILCS 5/24-25.

ADOPTED: April 20, 1999

8:60

Accommodating Individuals With Disabilities

Individuals with disabilities shall be provided an opportunity to participate in all school-sponsored services, programs, or activities on an equal basis to those without disabilities and will not be subject to illegal discrimination. Where necessary, the District may provide to persons with disabilities separate or different aids, benefits, or services from, but as effective as, those provided to others.

The District will provide auxiliary aids and services where necessary to afford individuals with disabilities equal opportunity to participate in or enjoy the benefits of a service, program, or activity.

Each service, program, or activity operated in existing facilities shall be readily accessible to, and useable by, individuals with disabilities. New construction and alterations to facilities existing before January 26, 1992, will be accessible when viewed in their entirety.

The Superintendent is designated the Americans With Disabilities Act, Title II Coordinator and, in that capacity, is directed to:

1. Oversee the District's compliance efforts, recommend necessary modifications to the Board, and maintain the District's final Title II self-evaluation document and keep it available for public inspection, for at least 3 years after its completion date.
2. Institute plans to make information regarding Title II's protection available to any interested party.

Individuals with disabilities should notify the Superintendent or Building Principal if they have a disability which will require special assistance or services and, if so, what services are required. This notification should occur as far as possible before the school-sponsored function, program, or meeting.

Individuals with disabilities may allege a violation of this policy or federal law by reporting it to the Superintendent, as the Title II Coordinator, or by filing a grievance under the Uniform Grievance Procedure. The Superintendent shall insert into this policy the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the District's current Complaint Managers for the Uniform Grievance Procedure.

Complaint Managers:

Name

Address

Telephone No.

LEGAL REF.: Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12111 et seq. and 12131et seq.; 28 C.F.R. Part 35.

CROSS REF.: 2:260 (Uniform Grievance Procedure), 4:150

ADOPTED: April 20, 1999

8:70

Gifts to the District

The Board of Education accepts gifts from any education foundation or other entity or individual, provided the gift can be used in a manner compatible with the Board’s educational objectives and policies. While the Board encourages unrestricted gifts, donations to fund specific projects are acceptable if the project is approved by the Board. All gifts received become the School District’s property.

LEGAL REF.: 105 ILCS 5/16-1.

ADOPTED: April 20, 1999

8:80

Parent Organizations

The Board of Education recognizes that parent organizations are an invaluable resource to the District schools and so supports their formation and vitality. While parent organizations shall have no administrative authority and cannot determine District policy, their suggestions and assistance are always welcome. Membership will be open and unrestricted.

The Building Principal or designee will serve as the advisor to parent organizations in his or her school and will serve as a resource person and provide information about school programs, resources, policies, problems, concerns, and emerging issues. Building staff will be encouraged to participate in the organizations.

ADOPTED: April 20, 1999

8:90

Parental Involvement

In order to assure collaborative relationships between students' families and the District, and to enable parents/guardians to become active partners in their children’s education, the Superintendent shall develop administrative procedures to:

1. Keep parent(s)/guardian(s) thoroughly informed about their child's school and education.
2. Encourage parents/guardians to be involved in their child's school and education.
3. Establish effective two-way communication between parents/guardians and the District.
4. Seek input from parents/guardians on significant school-related issues.
5. Inform parents/guardians on how they can assist their children's learning.

The Superintendent shall periodically report to the Board on the implementation of this policy.

CROSS REF.: 6:170, 6:250, 8:10, 8:90

ADMIN. PROC.: 6:170-E1, 6:170-E2

ADOPTED: April 20, 1999

REVISED: November 19, 2007

8:95

Volunteers

Voluntary assistance of persons wishing to aid in the activity of the schools or supervision of the students may be accepted providing a pre-arrangement is made between the building Principal and the teacher or teachers involved. Such persons offering voluntary assistance will in no way be considered or treated as employees of the District and the District shall assume no liability to such volunteers as employer. No Principal-agent relationship will be created between the District and the volunteers. Volunteers will submit a tuberculosis examination report to the Superintendent. Volunteers must also undergo a criminal background check.

CROSS REF.: 6:250

ADOPTED:

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Relations With Other Organizations and Agencies

The District shall cooperate with other organizations and agencies, including the:

• County Health Department;
• law enforcement agencies;
• fire authorities;
• planning authorities;
• zoning authorities; and
• other school districts.

CROSS REF.: 4:170 (includes notification of child sex offenders); 5:90 (Abused and Neglected Child Reporting); 7:150 (Agency and Police Interviews)

ADOPTED: April 20, 1999

8:100

CROSS REF.: 2:140, 2:260 (Uniform Grievance Procedure), 3:30, 6:260

ADOPTED: April 20, 1999

8:110

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