371.1

EQUAL ACCESS

(Limited Open Forum)

Since the Appleton Area School District receives federal financial assistance, and because the District allows non-curriculum related student groups to meet on the school premises, students currently enrolled in secondary schools shall be permitted to conduct group meetings on high school premises during non-instructional time.

Student groups requesting facility usage shall not discriminate against other students on the basis of sex, race, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, creed, color, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or physical, cognitive, emotional or learning disability in its education programs or activities.

The following standards for all non-curriculum related student group meetings shall be uniformly required by the principal of all requesting student groups:

1. The meeting is voluntary and student initiated.
2. The meeting is not sponsored by the school or employees of the school.
3. School employees present at religious meetings do so in a “non-participatory capacity.”
4. The meeting does not materially and substantially interfere with the orderly conduct of educational activities within the school.
5. An approved adult supervisor/monitor shall be present at the meeting in a non-participatory capacity only.
6. Non-school persons (adults not approved to supervise/monitor) may not direct, conduct, control, or regularly attend these activities of student groups.
7. All non-curricular organization or club meetings must occur before or after the school day.

Nothing in this policy or these standards shall be construed to limit the authority of the school, or employees, to maintain order and discipline on school premises, to protect the well-being of students and faculty, and to assure that attendance of students at meetings is voluntary.

The Board of Education retains the right to designate the non-instructional time, which may be used for meetings, before or after the instructional day.

 

Cross Reference:
Guidelines for Equal Access to Use School Facilities, 371.1-Rule

Legal References:
Wisconsin State Statute 118.13
Equal Access Act (20 U.S.C. 4071-74)

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Adoption Date: September 9, 2002

 

 

371.1-Rule

GUIDELINES FOR EQUAL ACCESS
TO USE SCHOOL FACILITIES

Procedures

The secondary schools in the AASD shall have a limited public forum for non-curriculum related student groups/clubs wishing to meet to engage in meetings, subject to the following conditions:

1. Students shall be permitted to meet before or after normal school hours during non-instructional time allocated for the activity. Students are not to be present if required to be elsewhere per school rules including time when students are to be off-school property or outside the school facility.
    
2. All meetings shall be student-initiated and open to all full-time students in the school on a voluntary attendance basis.
    
3. No meeting may include any activity that is unlawful or that materially and substantially interferes with the orderly conduct of educational activities at the school.
    
4. There is no sponsorship of the meeting by the school or employees of the School District.
    
5. An approved adult supervisor/monitor shall be present at the meeting in a non-participatory capacity only, subject to paragraphs 2, 3, and 4, to ensure order and good behavior, for insurance reasons and by school policy.
    
6. Students may invite outside speakers to their meeting subject to paragraphs 2, 3 and 4, but non-school persons (adults not approved to supervise/monitor) may not direct, control, or regularly attend activities of student groups.
    
7. Meeting times, places, and program content may be announced or posted following the same time, location, medium and approval policies placed on all non-curriculum related student groups/clubs.
    
8. If students wish to meet under this policy, they must file a written request with the principal or designee at least ten school days before the first meeting with the request to include:
   1. The purpose of the meeting.
   2. The time and date(s) for the meeting.
   3. The name of one student to serve as the contact person between the group and the principal.
   4. The name of the proposed adult supervisor/monitor who will be attending the meeting
       
9. The principal or designee will approve a meeting if it meets the requirements of this policy and shall notify the student contact person of his/her approval, or if the meeting does not meet the requirements of this policy, his/her reasons for disapproval.

Nothing in these guidelines shall be construed to authorize the District to:

1. influence the form or content of any prayer or other religious activity;
2. require any person to participate in prayer or other religious activity;
3. expend public funds beyond the incidental cost of providing the space for student-initiated meetings;
4. compel any school agent or employee to attend a school meeting if the content of the speech at the meeting is contrary to the beliefs of the agent or employee;
5. sanction meetings that are otherwise unlawful;
6. limit the rights of groups of students which are not of a specified numerical size;
7. abridge the constitutional rights of any person.

The term “sponsorship,” as used in these guidelines includes the act of promoting, leading, or participating in a meeting. The assignment of a teacher, administrator, or other school employee to a meeting for custodial purposes does not constitute sponsorship of the meeting.

The term “meeting” includes those activities of student groups, which are permitted under the District’s limited open forum and are not directly related to the school’s curriculum.

 

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Adoption Date: September 9, 2002