Procedure: 2153P

Section: 2000 - Instruction

Title: Non-Curriculum-Related Student Groups

Status: Active

Adopted: October 9, 1995

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 Procedure - Non-Curriculum-Related Student Groups

A non-curriculum-related student group is any group of Ferndale secondary students which does not qualify as a cocurricular student group under the criteria identified in Board Policy and Administrative Procedures 2150. No non-curriculum-related student group shall be sponsored by the school district, any school, or any district employee. Non-curriculum-related student groups shall include, but not be limited to, groups established for political, charitable, or religious purposes.

Non-curriculum-related student groups shall be permitted to use school facilities for meetings at reasonable times before or after the instructional day subject to the approval of the school principal if the following criteria are satisfied:

I. The group must be organized for lawful purposes and may not engage in activities that violate federal or state laws or that interfere with school operations.

II. Meetings must be open to all Ferndale High School students without regard for age, religion, sex, national origin, or disability.

III. Meetings shall be voluntary and must be organized and initiated entirely by Ferndale High School students.

IV. Meetings may be advertised only on a bulletin board designated by the principal for that purpose. Any advertisement of such meetings shall clearly state that the meeting is not a school-sponsored event.

V. Student members of the group must direct, conduct, and control all meetings of the group. An adult supervisor must be in attendance.

VI. Guests may be permitted to attend meetings provided that they register and sign a statement promising not to direct, conduct, control, or regularly attend meetings of the group. The guest register or a copy thereof shall be given to the school principal the first school day following the conclusion of each meeting.

VII. The principal shall assign a staff member to monitor the meetings using the following guidelines:

A. no staff member may be compelled to attend any meeting if the content of the speech at such meeting is contrary to his/her beliefs;

B. if the meeting is for a religious purpose, the staff member shall not participate in the meeting; and

C. any costs attributable to the monitoring of a meeting by an assigned staff member shall be borne by the group

VIII. Applications by a non-curriculum-related student group for approval to meet on school premises before or after the instructional day shall be submitted to the school principal at least ten (10) school days before the desired meeting date or the first in a planned series of meeting dates. The application shall provide:

A. a description of the proposed meeting along with the purpose,

B. the names of the student organizers,

C. the time and frequency of meetings for the proposed group, the estimated size of the group, and

D. a statement that the student organizers have read and agree to abide by the provisions of this Board Policy and Procedures relating to student group meetings.

The principal should either grant or deny the application at least two (2) school days before the desired meeting date. Any decision by the principal regarding approval shall be final. The principal shall notify the Assistant Superintendent when an application is submitted for activities that may be perceived as potentially controversial.

Adopted: October 9, 1995