The board believes inappropriate student appearance causes material and substantial disruption to the school environment or presents a threat to the health and safety of students, employees and visitors.

Students are expected to adhere to standards of cleanliness and dress that are compatible with the requirements of a good learning environment.  The standards will be those generally acceptable to the community as appropriate in a school setting.

The board expects students to be clean and well-groomed and wear clothes in good repair and appropriate for the time, place and occasion.  Clothing or other apparel promoting products illegal for use by minors and clothing displaying obscene material, profanity, or reference to prohibited conduct are disallowed.  While the primary responsibility for appearance lies with the students and their parents, appearance disruptive to the education program will not be tolerated.  When, in the judgment of a principal, a student's appearance or mode of dress disrupts the educational process or constitutes a threat to health or safety, the student may be required to make modifications.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principals, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.

Legal Reference:  Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, 484 U.S. 260 (1988).
                                      Bethal School District  v. Fraser, 478 U.S. 675 (1986).
                                      Tinker v. Des Moines Ind. Comm. Sch. Dist., 393 U.S. 503 (1969).
                                      Bystrom v. Fridley High School, 822 F.2d 747 (8th Cir. 1987).
                                      Torvik v. Decorah Community School, 453 F.2d 779 (8th Cir. 1972).
                                      Turley v. Adel Community School District, 322 F.Supp. 402 (S.D. Iowa 1971).
                                      Sims v. Colfax Comm. School Dist., 307 F.Supp. 485 (Iowa 1970).
                                      Iowa Code § 279.8 (2003).

Adopted:    07/21/2003
Reviewed:  03/11/2024

Students will treat school district property with the care and the respect.    Students found to have destroyed or otherwise harmed school district property may be required to reimburse the school district.  They may be subject to discipline under board policy and the school district rules and regulations.  They may also be referred to local law enforcement authorities.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative rules regarding this policy.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 282.4, .5; 613.16

Cross Reference:  802.1  Maintenance Schedule
                                   

Adopted:     07/21/2003
Reviewed:  03/11/2024

Code No.  502.3

STUDENT EXPRESSION AND STUDENT PUBLICATIONS

Student Expression

It is the goal of the district to protect the educational environment for all students to help ensure it is free from substantial disruption or infringement upon their rights.  Student expression should be appropriate to help ensure that the students learn and meet the goals of the school activity and that the potential audience is not exposed to material that may be harmful or inappropriate for their level of maturity.

While students will generally be allowed to express their viewpoints and opinions, in certain qualifying circumstances, student speech may require administrative regulation to help ensure the safety and welfare of the school community.  The district may regulate speech that:  causes or is reasonably anticipated to cause a material and substantial disruption to the education environment; infringes upon the rights of others; is obscene or lewd; is school sponsored; and/or promotes illegal activity.  The administration, when making this judgment, will consider whether the activity in which the expression was made is school-sponsored and whether review or prohibition of the students' speech furthers an educational purpose.  The expression must be done in a reasonable time, place, and manner that is not disruptive to the orderly and efficient operation of the school district.

The superintendent may develop procedures for safely addressing qualifying types of mass protests by students, including walk-ins and walk-outs.  Walk-ins occur when students leave their learning environments during school hours and gather in a group or groups with the purpose of promoting a belief or beliefs.  Walk-outs occur when students leave their learning environments during school hours and gather in a group or groups off district property with the purpose of promoting a belief or beliefs. 

The superintendent is encouraged to obtain feedback from community stakeholders in the development of these procedures.  The goal of the procedures shall be to address student safety, maintain the education environment and promote communication during demonstrations while remaining viewpoint neutral.

Students who violate this policy may be subject to disciplinary measures.  Employees are responsible for helping to ensure students' expression is in keeping with this policy.  It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.

Student Publications

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 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.

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 213.1. 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 502.4.

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:           U.S. Const. amend. I.

                                    Iowa Const. art. I (sec. 7)

                                    Morse v. Frederick, 551 U.S. 393 (2007)

                                    Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, 484 U.S. 260 (1988).

                                    Bethel School District v. Fraser, 478 U.S. 675 (1986).

                                    New Jersey v. T.L.O., 469 U.S. 325 (1985).

                                    Tinker v. Des Moines Ind. Comm. Sch. Dist., 393 U.S. 503 (1969).

                                    Bystrom v. Fridley High School, 822 F.2d 747 (8th Cir. 1987).

                                    Iowa Code §§ 279.8, .73; 280.22

Cross Reference:

102                               Equal Educational Opportunity

102-R(1)                       Equal Educational Opportunity - Grievance Procedure

102-EH(1)                    Equal Educational Opportunity - Annual Notice of Nondiscrimination

102-EH(2)                    Equal Educational Opportunity - Continuous Notice of Nondiscrimination

102-EH(3)                    Equal Educational Opportunity - Notice of Section 504 Student and Parental Rights

102-E(4)                       Equal Educational Opportunity - Discrimination Complaint Form

102-E(5)                       Equal Educational Opportunity - Witness Disclosure Form

102-E(6)                       Equal Educational Opportunity - Disposition of Complaint Form

401.14                          Employee Expression

603.09                          Academic Freedom

603.09-R(1)                  Academic Freedom - Teaching Controversial Issues

903.05                          Distribution of Materials

903.05-R(1)                  Distribution of Materials - Regulation

Adopted:    04/20/1998

Reviewed:  03/11/2024

Revised: 03/11/2024

STUDENT COMPLAINTS AND GRIEVANCES-Code No.  502.4

Creating an environment where students feel comfortable addressing their concerns in a meaningful manner is vital to the learning process.  It is the goal of the board to resolve student complaints at the lowest organizational level.  Student complaints and grievances regarding board policy, administrative regulations, or other matters should first be addressed to the student's teacher or another licensed employee, other than the administration, for resolution of the complaint. 

If the complaint cannot be resolved by a student’s teacher or other licensed employee, the student may discuss the matter with the principal within 10 days of the employee's decision.  If the matter cannot be resolved by the principal, the student may discuss it with the superintendent within 10 days after speaking with the principal.

If the matter is not satisfactorily resolved by the superintendent, the student may ask to have the matter placed on the board agenda of a regularly scheduled board meeting in compliance with board policy. The board retains discretion as to whether to consider or take action on any complaint.

Legal Reference:           Iowa Code § 279.8

Cross Reference:          210.8    Board Meeting Agenda

                                    213       Public Participation in Board Meetings

Adopted: 11/15/2021  

Reviewed: 03/11/2024

Revised:

Student lockers are the property of the school district.  Students will use the lockers assigned to them by the school district for storing their school materials and personal belongings necessary for attendance at school.  It is the responsibility of students to keep their assigned lockers clean and undamaged.

To ensure students are properly maintaining their assigned lockers, the principal of the building may periodically inspect all or a random selection of lockers.  Either students or another individual will be present during the inspection of lockers.  Student lockers may also be searched, at any time and without advance notice, in compliance with board policy regulating search and seizure.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 280.14; 808A.

Cross Reference: 802.1 Maintenance Schedule

Adopted:          07/21/2003
Reviewed:        03/11/2024

Code No.  502.6

WEAPONS

The board believes weapons, other dangerous objects and look-a-likes in school district facilities cause material and substantial disruption to the school environment or present a threat to the health and safety of students, employees and visitors on the school district premises or property within the jurisdiction of the school district.

Weapons and other dangerous objects and look-a-likes will be taken from students and others who bring them onto the school district property or onto property within the jurisdiction of the school district or from students who are within the control of the school district.

Parents of students found to possess weapons, dangerous objects or look-a-likes on school property are notified of the incident.  Possession or confiscation of weapons or dangerous objects will be reported to law enforcement officials, and students will be subject to disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion.

Students bringing firearms to school or knowingly possessing firearms at school will be expelled for not less than one year.  The superintendent has the authority to recommend this expulsion requirement be modified for students on a case-by-case basis.  For purposes of this portion of this policy, the term “firearm” includes, but is not limited to, any weapon which is designed to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive, the frame or receiver of any such weapon, a muffler or silencer for such a weapon, or any explosive, incendiary or poison gas.

Weapons under the control of law enforcement officials are exempt from this policy. Students and individuals approved in writing by the Superintendent who are actively engaging in a school district approved firearms safety course, hunter education course or shooting sports activity are exempt from this policy.  The principal will allow authorized persons to display weapons, other dangerous objects or look-a-likes for educational purposes.  Such a display will also be exempt from this policy. It is the administrative regulations regarding this policy and has been communicated with law enforcement relevant exemptions to this policy are appropriate.

Legal Reference:           18 U.S.C. § 921

Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 280.21B; 483A.27(11), 724

281 I.A.C. 12.3(6)

Adopted:    04/20/1998

Reviewed:  08/12/2024

Revised:     08/12/2024

Code No.  502.7        

STUDENT SUBSTANCE USE

The board believes it is imperative to promote the health and wellbeing of all students in the district. The district will provide a substance use prevention program and set restrictions on substance use by students in accordance with applicable law.

The board prohibits the distribution, dispensing, manufacture, possession, use, or being under the influence of alcohol, tobacco/ nicotine products, other controlled substances, or "look alike" substances that appear to be tobacco/nicotine products, alcohol or controlled substances by students while on school district property or on property within the jurisdiction of the school district including but not limited to: buildings, grounds, parking lots, school vehicles and personal vehicles while on the grounds, athletic fields/stands and dock areas; while on school owned and/or operated school or chartered buses; while attending or engaged in school activities; including school sponsored and nonschool-sponsored events and while away from school grounds if the misconduct will directly affect the good order, efficient management and welfare of the school district. 

“Controlled substances” in this policy refers to the misuse of both licit and illicit drugs.

“Nicotine products” mean any product containing nicotine or any other preparation of tobacco and any product or formulation of matter containing biologically active amounts of nicotine.”  “Nicotine products” does not include cessation product specifically approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in reducing, treating, or eliminating nicotine or tobacco dependence.

The board believes such illegal, unauthorized or contraband materials generally cause material and substantial disruption to the school environment or present a threat to the health and safety of students, employees, or visitors.

Violation of this policy by students will result in disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion.  Use, purchase or being in possession of tobacco/nicotine products for those under the age of twenty-one, may be reported to the local law enforcement authorities.  Possession, use or being under the influence of alcohol and/or of a controlled substance may also be reported to the local law enforcement authorities.

Students who violate the terms of this policy may be required to satisfactorily complete a substance abuse assistance or rehabilitation program approved by the school board.  If such student fails to satisfactorily complete such a program, the student may be subject to discipline including suspension or expulsion.

The board believes the substance abuse prevention program shall include:

·           Age-appropriate, evidence based substance use prevention curriculum for students in grades kindergarten through twelve, which address the legal, social, and health consequences of tobacco and nicotine products, drug and alcohol use and which provide information about effective techniques for resisting social pressure to use tobacco, drugs or alcohol;

·           A statement to students that the use of controlled substances and the unlawful possession and use of tobacco/nicotine products and alcohol is harmful to student wellbeing;

·           Standards of conduct for students that clearly prohibit, at a minimum, the unlawful possession, use, being under the influence of or distribution of controlled substances, tobacco/nicotine products and/or alcohol by students on school premises or as part of any of its activities;

·           A clear statement that disciplinary sanctions, up to and including suspension or expulsion and referral for prosecution, will be imposed on students who violate

the policy and a description of those sanctions;

·           A statement that students may be required to complete a substance use evaluation to determine whether substance use disorder treatment is recommended and if recommended, successfully complete an appropriate rehabilitation program;

·           Information about drug and alcohol counseling and rehabilitation and re-entry programs available to students;

·           A requirement that parents and students be given a copy of the standards of conduct and the statement of disciplinary sanctions required; and

·           Notification to parents and students that compliance with the standards of conduct is mandatory.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.

Legal Reference:        34 C.F.R. Pt. 86

                        Iowa Code §§ 123.46; 124; 279.8, .9; 453A

                        281 I.A.C. 12.3(6); .5(3)(e), .5(4)(e), .5(5)(e)

Adopted:         04/20/1998

Revised:          04/22/2024

Reviewed:       04/22/2024

School district property is held in public trust by the board.  School district authorities may, without a search warrant, search students or protected student areas based on a reasonable and articulable suspicion that a school district policy, rule, regulation or law has been violated.  The search shall be in a manner reasonable in scope to maintain order and discipline in the schools, promote the educational environment, and protect the safety and welfare of students, employees and visitors to the school district facilities.  The furnishing of a locker, desk or other facility or space owned by the school and provided as a courtesy to a student, even if the student provides the lock for it, shall not create a protected student area and shall not give rise to an expectation of privacy with respect the locker, desk, or other facility.

School authorities may seize any illegal, unauthorized or contraband materials discovered in the search.  Items of contraband may include, but are not limited to, nonprescription controlled substances, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates, apparatus used for controlled substances, alcoholic beverages, tobacco/nicotine, weapons, explosives, poisons and stolen property.  Such items are not to be possessed by a student while they are on school district property or on property within the jurisdiction of the school district; while on school owned and/or operated school or chartered buses; while attending or engaged in school activities; and while away from school grounds if misconduct will directly affect the good order, efficient management and welfare of the school district.  Possession of such items will be grounds for disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion and may be reported to local law enforcement officials.  The board believes that illegal, unauthorized or contraband materials may cause material and substantial disruption to the school environment or presents a threat to the health and safety of students, employees, or visitors on the school district premises or property within the jurisdiction of the school district.

The Superintendent of Schools may authorize, as part of an overall effort to maintain safe schools, the periodic use of narcotic detection dogs to alert staff to the presence of substances prohibited by law or Board policy.

All school property such as lockers, classrooms, parking areas and storage areas may be searched.

• Dogs shall not be used in rooms occupied by persons except for demonstration purposes with the handler present.
• When used for demonstration purposes, the dog may not sniff the person or any individual.
• The dogs may sniff the air around lockers, desks, or vehicles on District property or at District-sponsored events as long as they are not allowed to sniff within close proximity of any student’s person.
• Individual(s) shall not be subjected to a search by dogs. To avoid the potential of allergic reactions, dogs shall be kept away from the students.

Actual times or dates of planned searches need not be released in advance.  Only the dog’s official handler will determine what constitutes an alert by the dog.  If a dog alerts on a locker and a search is subsequently conducted by school officials, the search will be conducted in the presence of the student(s) whose locker(s) is/are being searched or, in the absence of the student(s), the search shall be conducted in the presence of at least one other person. If a dog alerts on a locked vehicle, the student who brought it onto District property shall be asked to unlock it for a search conducted per procedure outlined in Board of Education Policy. An effort shall be made to protect the student’s privacy to the greatest degree possible.

Law enforcement agencies will be contacted to investigate, handle and confiscate any illegal substances or materials found during the school’s search and students with such substances or materials may be subject to criminal prosecution in addition to any school disciplinary action.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principals, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.

Legal Reference:  U.S. Const. amend. IV.
                                       New Jersey v. T.L.O., 469 U.S. 325 (1985).
                                       Cason v. Cook, 810 F.2d 188 (8th Cir. 1987), cert. den., 482 U.S. 930 (1987).
                                       Iowa Code ch. 808A
                                       281 I.A.C. 12.3(6).

Cross Reference:  905.2 Nicotine/Tobacco-Free Environment
                              

Adopted:    04/20/1998
Reviewed:  03/11/2024
Revised: 

Generally, students may not be interviewed during the school day by persons other than parents and school district officials and employees.

Requests from law enforcement officers and from persons other than parents, school district officials, and employees to interview students shall be made through the principal's office.  Upon receiving a request, it shall be the responsibility of the principal to determine whether the request will be granted.  Generally, prior to granting a request, the principal shall attempt to contact the parents to inform them of the request and to ask them to be present.

If a child abuse investigator wishes to interview a student, the principal will defer to the investigator's judgment as to whether the student should be interviewed independently from the student's parents, whether the school is the most appropriate setting for the interview, and who will be present during the interview.

Students will not be taken from school without the consent of the principal and without proper warrant.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code ¤ 232; 280.17
                                      281 I.A.C. 102.
                                      441 I.A.C. 9.2; 155; 175.
                                

Cross Reference:  402.2   Child Abuse Reporting
                                      502.10  Use of Motor Vehicles
                                      902.2 News Conferences and Interviews

Adopted:    04/20/1998
Reviewed:  03/11/2024