Adopted: April 1985
Revised: March 1989
1. This policy shall only apply to students in grades 7 through 12.
2. The times early in the day when teachers are on duty before the student day begins and late in the day when teachers are on duty after the student day ends on days during which classes are in session shall be set aside for a limited open forum.
3. Noncurriculum-related student groups that want to conduct meetings during the limited open forum shall submit a written request to the school principal for permission to conduct a meeting during the forum. The request shall estimate the number of students expected to be at the meeting and the dates on which the group wants to meet. The request shall also list any special equipment that may be needed, such as a projector or microphone.
3.1 Upon receipt of such a request, the principal shall try to find a suitable room for the group to use and shall arrange for proper supervision of the meeting by an agent or employee of the school district.
3.2 If there is an insufficient number of rooms or an insufficient number of supervisors available on the particular day to meet all requests, noncurriculum-related student groups shall be given access on a first-come, first-served basis. The principal shall attempt to provide facilities on alternative days to other noncurriculum-related student groups with the goal of providing each group with equal access and a fair opportunity to meet.
3.3 The number of students in a particular group will be limited to the safe capacity of the room that is used, although the principal shall attempt to make larger rooms available if needed.
3.4 Students meeting during the limited open forum shall not engage in any activity that is illegal, dangerous or disruptive to other activities. Illegal, dangerous or disruptive behavior can be grounds for discipline of an individual student and grounds for a particular group to be denied access during the limited open forum.
3.5 No group shall be allowed to meet during the limited open forum without supervision be an agent to employee of the school district.
3.6 All meetings of noncurriculum-related student groups during the limited open forum shall be initiated and conducted by students.
4. No group shall be discriminated against or denied access on the basis of the religious, political, philosophical or other content of the students’ speech at such meetings.
5. The administration shall adopt additional rules, as it deems necessary, to implement this policy and to accommodate student requests.