The size of each class shall depend upon the type of instruction needed to assist each student to develop his/her academic and occupational capacities to the utmost.  Effective use of staff shall also be considered in organizing and scheduling classroom instruction.  The administrators of each school shall determine class size for each school unit, within the general policy established for class size by the Board of Education.

Class size for special education students is established by state statute and AEA (Area Education Agency) guidelines.

The superintendent of school and his/her administrative staff are instructed to investigate new approaches and techniques for organizing and scheduling classroom instruction.

Adopted:               03/03/1989
Reviewed:             01/15/2020

Code No. 606.2

SCHOOL CEREMONIES AND OBSERVANCES

The school district will continue school ceremonies and observances which have become a tradition and a custom of the education program.  These include, but are not limited to, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and observance of holidays, such as Christmas, Halloween and Easter, by programs and performances.  Such ceremonies or observances will have a secular purpose and will not advocate or sponsor a particular religion.

The district will provide and maintain a suitable flagstaff at each school site and raise the Iowa and United States flags each school day as weather conditions permit.  The district will display the United States flag and administer the Pledge of Allegiance in each 1^st through 12^th grade classroom on school days.

Students who do not wish to participate in these activities may be silent during the ceremony or observance or receive permission from the principal to be excused from the ceremony for religious reasons in compliance with board policy.

Legal Reference:          U.S. Const. amend. I.

                                    Lee v. Weisman, 112 S.Ct. 2649 (1992).

                                    Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971).

                                    Graham v. Central Community School District of Decatur County, 608 F.Supp. 531 (S.D. Iowa 1985).

                                    Iowa Code § 279.8; 280.5

Cross Reference:          603      Instructional Curriculum

                                    604.5   Religious-Based Exclusion From A School Program

Approved   12/19/2022                          

Reviewed  12/19/2022                           

Revised 12/19/2022

Live animals will not be allowed in school district facilities except under special circumstances and only for an educational purpose.  Permission from the principal will be required of anyone wishing to bring an animal into school district facilities.  Appropriate supervision of animals is required when animals are brought into the school district facilities.

The person bringing the animal must furnish transportation for the animal brought to school.  Animals will not be allowed to travel to and from the student's attendance center on the school bus without prior approval from the principal.

It is the responsibility of the principal to determine appropriate supervision of animals in the classroom.  This policy is not intended to address the use of service animals, assistive animals, therapy animals or emotional support animals on District property.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code § 279.8

Cross Reference:  105      Assistance Animals
                                      507      Student Health and Well-Being

Adopted: 09/17/2018
Reviewed: 01/15/2020                         
Revised:

The Board of Directors recognizes that a properly planned, well-conducted, and carefully supervised field trip is a vital part of the curriculum of any classroom.  As such, student trips of significant educational value are to be encouraged.

Field trips shall have the prior approval of the building principal.  Advance consent of the students’ parents or guardians is required for any excursion involving the use of public or private transportation.  When the district provides transportation, the cost must be deducted from the yearly transportations costs.

Field trips outside the state must have the approval of the superintendent or his/her designated representative.

Excursions outside the United States must have the recommendation of the administration and the approval of the Board of Directors.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Administrative Code 22.9 (285)

Adopted:               03/03/1989
Reviewed:             01/15/2020

Insufficient Classroom Space-Code No. 606.6

It is the goal of the district to create learning environments that encourage the growth and development of each student.  Providing classrooms with an appropriate student-teacher ratio is central to achieving this goal.  Insufficient classroom space exists when conditions in the district adversely affect the implementation of the district’s goals and its educational program. 

Insufficient classroom space shall be determined on a case-by-case basis. 

In making its determination whether insufficient classroom space exists, the board may consider several factors, including but not limited to, the nature of the education program, the grade level, the available licensed employees, the instructional method, the physical space, student-teacher ratios, equipment and materials, facilities either being planned or under construction, facilities planned to be closed, financial condition of the school district and projected to be available, a sharing agreement in force or planned, a bargaining agreement in force, laws or rules governing special education class size, board-adopted school district goals and objectives, and other factors considered relevant by the board.

This policy shall be reviewed by the board annually.  It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to bring this policy to the attention of the board each year.

Legal Reference:           Iowa Code § 282.18(13).

                                    281 I.A.C. 17.6(3).

Cross Reference:          103       Long-Range Needs Assessment

                                    501.15  Open Enrollment Transfers - Procedures as a Receiving District

                                    606.1    Class Size - Class Grouping

Adopted:               11/15/1999

Reviewed:              01/15/2020

Revised:                 11/15/2021

Homework should be an integral and relevant part of every student’s instructional program.  It should be used consistently throughout the grades and classes.

Homework is defined to be the extra-class activities and assignments which may properly be considered as extensions and enrichment of the regular classroom instructional program.

The purpose of carefully assigned homework should be:

                        (1)  practicing research and exploratory activities,

                        (2)  sharing and discussing ideas,

                        (3)  reviewing and summarizing materials studied,

                        (4)  becoming acquainted with references and resource materials,

                        (5)  organizing students’ thoughts and thinking processes in preparation for classroom activities, and

                        (6)  making up incomplete course or subject assignments.

The Superintendent is directed to develop rules and regulations for the assignment of homework for students in grades K-12.

Adopted:               03/03/1989
Reviewed:             01/15/2020

The Board of Directors recognizes that the people of the community are one of the greatest resources of the school system, and that they have special knowledge and particular talents to contribute to the school program.  The Board of Directors therefore encourages the use of community resources and citizens to assist in furthering the educational program.  Use of outside personnel and resources shall be under regulations approved by the superintendent of schools.

As a matter of courtesy, the classroom teacher shall notify the building principal of a visiting speaker at least one week before the expected visit takes place.

Legal Reference:  1003.4 Citizen Assistance to School Personnel

Adopted:               03/03/1986
Reviewed:             01/15/2020

The administration may enter into a shared-time contract with another school district, or other public educational institution according to Chapter 28E, Iowa Code, to allow certificated staff to fill a vacant or newly created part-time position where none of the current staff members are available or do not possess the necessary certification and/or qualifications as determined by the Board.

The school district shall consider proposals of other public educational institutions to share certificated staff members where the arrangements may be mutually beneficial to the institutions, personnel and students involved.

All shared-time contracts shall be made on a voluntary basis with the teacher or administrator to be shared between the institutions.

Legal Reference: Iowa Code Chapter 28E
                                     Section 280.15

Adopted:               03/03/1986
Reviewed:             01/15/2020

The Board of Directors is obligated and charged by the State of Iowa to supply educational opportunity to all who qualify and enroll in its schools.  The Board will permit the education of private school students on a part-time basis, provided this is consistent with the rules developed by the Iowa legislature, and provided that such students are enrolled in the public school for sufficient times and courses of study as administrators determine to be in the best interests of all concerned.

Legal Reference: Iowa Code Chapter 257.26
                                  Attorney General Rulings - May 9,1972

Cross Reference:  501.8 Shared -Time Students

Adopted:               03/03/1986
Reviewed:             01/15/2020

As a service to students and their parents, the district will conduct an annual Musical Display Night.  The purpose of the evening activity is to provide a forum for qualified vendors to present, display and sell/rent musical instruments and accessories to interested students and their parents.  Participation in the evening’s activities is voluntary on the part of all students and parents.

Nothing in this policy may be considered to mean that any student is required to rent, lease, or purchase a musical instrument from any company qualified as a vendor under these rules, nor is there any restriction that students who purchase instruments from vendors other than those qualified to participate in Display Night under this policy shall be in any way limited in or discouraged from band participation as a result of their choice to obtain their instrument from some other vending source.  This policy shall not remove any student’s obligations to meet the requirements of any other policies made for the purpose of conducting a band program.

The schedule of events and specific activities shall be the responsibility of the administration.

The district will solicit qualified vendor participation in the display night by publishing a notice in a newspaper of general circulation within the district, requesting all interested vendors to contact the district.

All qualified vendors will be allowed to participate in the Display Night activities.  Qualification of each vendor will be determined by the administration based on written criteria contained in the accompanying administrative regulations.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code Sections 280.14
                                      AOG # 78-10-13,
                                      AOG # 79-4-6
                                      AOG # 80-2-15
                                      AOG # 82-9-9(L)

Cross Reference:  1005.3, Sales Promotions Prohibited

Adopted:               03/03/1986
Reviewed:             01/15/2020