STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Secondary school studentinitiated, noncurriculumrelated groups and student
curriculumrelated groups, upon receiving permission from the principal, may use school
facilities for group meetings during noninstructional time. Nothing in this policy shall
contradict the federal Equal Access Act.
Noninstructional time shall mean any time before the first period of the day and after the
last period of the day in which any student attends class. Meetings shall not interfere with
the orderly conduct of the education program or other school district operations. It shall
be within the discretion of the principal to determine whether the meetings will interfere
with the orderly conduct of the education program or other school district operations.
Activities relating to and part of the education program shall have priority over the
activities of another organization.
Access by Federally Recognized Youth Organizations
The district shall, upon request, allow a representative of any federally recognized youth
organization to provide (1) oral or written information to the students regarding that
youth organization and how the organization furthers the educational interests and civic
involvement of students in a manner consistent with good citizenship and (2) services and
activities to any student who is a member of the organization. A federally recognized
youth organization is one listed in 36 U.S.C. Subtitle II, Part B. Each requesting youth
organization shall be permitted to provide such information, services, and activities at
school at least once during each school year. Administrators shall make a good faith
effort to select a date, time, and location for each requesting organization to provide such
information, services, or activities that is mutually agreeable to the school district and to
the organization, but all final decisions rest with the administration. Any such
organization representative not employed by the district shall be subject to a background
check at the organization’s expense. Administrators may prohibit any organization
representative convicted of a felony or otherwise presenting safety concerns as described
in the district’s Visitors to School Policy from being on the school grounds. Nothing in
this section shall override or contradict the district’s Parental Involvement Policy.
NON-FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATIONS
Curriculum Related Organizations
It shall also be the responsibility of the principal to determine whether a student group is
curriculum-related. One or more of the following questions will be answered
affirmatively if the group is curriculum related:
- Is the subject matter of the group actually taught in a regularly offered course?
- Will the subject matter of the group soon be taught in a regularly offered course?
- Does the subject matter of the group concern the body of courses as a whole?
- Is participation in the group required for a particular course?
- Does participation in the group result in academic credit?
Secondary school curriculum related student organizations may use the school district
facilities for meetings and other purposes before and after the instructional school day.
Employees shall be assigned to monitor approved meetings and may interact with
curriculum related organizations.
NoncurriculumRelated Organizations
Studentinitiated, noncurriculumrelated organizations shall be provided access to meeting
space and school district facilities.
Only students may attend and participate in meetings of noncurriculumrelated groups.
Such attendance shall be strictly voluntary and studentinitiated. As a means of
determining whether a student's attendance is voluntary, the principal may require
parental consent for the student to attend the meetings.
Social Activities
Social activities are to be scheduled through the school principal's offices. No school
activities will be held on Wednesday evening or Sunday without special permission from
the superintendent of schools. At all social functions, the school house doors will be
closed one-half hour after the activity has begun. After arriving students may not leave
the building and return.
All groups are to be out of the buildings by 10:30 p.m. on school nights and 12:00
midnight on Friday or Saturday night except for the Homecoming Dance and the Junior-
Senior Prom which may last until 1:00 a.m. or later, if approved by administration.
Students may bring outside guests under the age of 21 to social activities with the
approval of the administration. The names of guests must be reported to the
administrative office prior to the event.
Legal Reference: Westside Community Board of Education v Mergens, 496
U.S. 226 (1990).
20 U.S.C. § 4071 et seq. – Denial of Equal Access
Prohibited
Neb. Statute 79-297 et seq.
Cross Reference: 504 Student Rights and Responsibilities
Approved July 14, 2014 Reviewed ___________ Revised October 9, 2023
