FILE:  JHC

Cf:  DK, IDE, JH

 

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

 

 

The Rapides Parish School Board, recognizing the importance of worthwhile organizations in the school, encourages club activities.  Such activities shall be held during school hours and/or before or after school, on weekends, or whenever feasible as controlled by Bulletin 741, Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators.

 

The following guidelines must be followed by all existing and all future clubs/ organizations in Rapides Parish schools:

 

  1. A faculty member, approved by the principal, shall monitor the club's meetings and activities.

  2. A roster of members must be submitted to the principal and copies given to all teachers.

  3. A written constitution or guidelines must be submitted to the principal that include the following:

 

    1. Philosophy

    2. Purpose

    3. Specific requirements for admission of members

    4. Responsibilities/expectations of members

 

  1. The minutes of all meetings shall be kept on file by the club's secretary or other designated member.  The club monitor shall review the minutes for accuracy and shall ensure the filing thereof.

  2. A schedule of dates and times of meetings must be approved by the principal; meetings of non-curriculum related clubs or organizations shall not require the expenditure of public or school funds beyond the incidental cost of providing the space for student initiated meetings.

  3. Accounting and deposit requirements of La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:414.3 shall be followed.  This statute requires that the funds raised by or donated to school clubs be deposited in a school fund account maintained by the principal of the school and that those funds shall be withdrawn and used only for purposes consistent with legitimate club activities.

  4. For all activities that occur off the school campus the provisions of policy IFCB, Field Trips and Excursions, shall be followed.

 

Approval of club activities shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

For student groups or clubs that are non-curriculum related as provided by the Federal Equal Access Act, the following fair opportunity criteria must also be adhered to:

 

  1. The meetings are voluntary and student-initiated;

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

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

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

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

 

If a violation of any of the above guidelines occurs in the operation of a school-monitored organization, the principal shall warn that club/organization in writing concerning the violation/s.  If the group does not correct the infraction/s, the principal has the authority to take further steps, such as placing the organization in a probationary status, to ensure that the established policies are followed.  After the above steps have been taken, if the organization continues to violate guidelines, the principal can ultimately disband the club/organization.

 

Revised:  October, 2001

 

 

Ref:    20 USC 4071-4074 (Equal Access)

20 USC 7905 (Equal Access to Public School Facilities)

La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:414.3, 17:2091

Board minutes, 10-2-01

 

Rapides Parish School Board