FILE:  JHC

Cf:  IDE, JH

 

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

 

 

The Cameron Parish School Board believes that student activities at school are a vital part of the total education program and should be used as a means for developing wholesome attitudes and good human relations, as well as knowledge and skills.  The Board believes that school citizenship, as reflected in student activities, is a measure of the achievement of important school goals.  The Board recognizes that the greatest values to be derived from both curricular and extracurricular student school activities occur when such activities are developed and encouraged through participation among, or the knowledge of, the student body, interested members in the community, and school staff. Such groups shall follow administrative regulations and procedures developed and maintained by the Superintendent and staff governing the creation and operation of student organizations and clubs in accordance with School Board policy.

 

Student organizations or clubs shall not deny membership to any student because of race, color, creed, sex, national origin, or disability.

 

The Board further believes that any program of student activities should:

 

  1. Require all student participation to be on a voluntary basis;
     

  2. Require that student activity funds should be used for purposes which benefit the student body of the school;
     

  3. Require that the management of student funds be the responsibility of the student with assistance from the organizational sponsor and the school administration; and
     

  4. Permit the formation of student unions, student clubs, and other student groups organized to promote or pursue specialized athletic, social service, and social activities providing that all organizations have the prior approval of the Board of Education.

 

Principals shall be responsible for approving or authorizing any student activity and/or organization and shall also be responsible for the operation and oversight of all student activities or organizations to assure compliance with administrative regulations.

 

EQUAL ACCESS

 

As provided by the Federal Equal Access Act, any school which allows non-curriculum related groups access to school facilities during non-instructional time must adhere to the following criteria:

 

  1. Equal access will not be denied on the basis of religious, political, philosophical or other content of such meetings or organizations;
     

  2. The meetings are voluntary and student-initiated;
     

  3. There is no sponsorship of the meetings by the school, the government, or its agents or employees;
     

  4. Employees or agents of the school or government are present at religious meetings only in a non-participatory capacity;
     

  5. The meetings do not materially and substantially interfere with the orderly conduct of educational activities within the school;
     

  6. Non-school persons may not direct, conduct, control, or regularly attend activities of student groups; and
     

  7. If access is given to school media such as bulletin boards, newspapers, or public address systems, it must be given to all non-curriculum related clubs on an equal basis.

 

Revised:  February, 2003

 

 

Ref:    20 USC 4071-4074 (Equal Access)

20 USC 7905 (Equal access to public school facilities)

La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ยงยง17:81, 17:2091

Board minutes, 7-14-08

 

Cameron Parish School Board