GRAND COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

5850 - STUDENTS - CURRICULUM AND NON-CURRICULUM STUDENT SPONSORED CLUBS

PURPOSE

The Board of Education of the Grand County School District has determined that the educational goals of the school district are furthered by authorizing student sponsored clubs in the school district as set forth in this policy.

Nothing in this policy prohibits the district or a school within the district from otherwise organizing and sponsoring activities that involve students during or outside of the traditional school day.

Nothing in this policy prohibits the district or a school within the district from otherwise permitting members of the public or non-school organizations from conducting activities on school property as a civic center under a rental agreement as provided for by district policy and as provided for under law.

DEFINITIONS

The following definitions apply to this policy:

A. Curriculum Related Club - means a club for which:

B. Club - means an organization of students that meets outside of regular classroom hours in a school which is not sponsored or directed by the school or district .

C. Supervised Student Sponsored Club - means a club organized and operated by students with the permission of school authorities, and operated by students under the close supervision of district staff supervisor.

D. Monitored Student Sponsored Club - means a club organized and operated by students with the permission of school authorities and for which a district staff monitor is assigned to the club to provide support as necessary and to monitor activities to ensure compliance with applicable school policies.

E. Supervising Monitor - school district employee assigned by the school principal for custodial purposes and to provide support and direction as appropriate.

F. Instructional Time - as used herein shall mean times during which classes are scheduled.

G. Contractual Time - as used herein shall mean times staff member is paid under contract time.

H. Traditional School Day - as used herein shall mean times during which school-sponsored activities have been scheduled, including activities of student clubs during the lunch hour.

Utah Admin. Code R277-617-1

I. Non-Curriculum Student Sponsored Club - any club whose subject or purpose does not meet guidelines for a curriculum related club.

J. Limited Open Forum - allowing for both curriculum related and lawful non-curriculum clubs.

K. Closed forum - allowing for only curriculum related clubs.

AUTHORIZATION OF STUDENT SPONSORED CLUBS

For grades K-6, no student sponsored clubs are authorized.

For grades 7-8, only supervised student sponsored clubs and monitored student sponsored religious clubs are authorized.

For grades 9-12, supervised student sponsored clubs and monitored student sponsored clubs are authorized.

Utah Admin. Code R277-617-3(A)

Requirement to Attain Authorization (7-12)

Students seeking authorization to establish a club of any type must prepare a club charter which:

A. States the proposed name of the club, which must reflect that it is a student sponsored club and not sponsored by the school or district;

B. Sets forth the purposes of the club;

C. Describes the types of activities in which club members may be engaged;

D. Prohibits the following activities:

Utah Admin. Code R277-617-3(b)

Formation of Student Clubs

Within twenty (20) school days after the beginning of the school year, each student group seeking to establish a club under this policy must submit an application to form a student group or club.

Formation of Non-Curriculum Student Sponsored Clubs

In addition to filing an initial application to form the student group, within twenty (20) days after the beginning of the school year each student group must submit to the principal or a designee a re-application annually on a form provided by the school district which states:

A. The purpose and objectives of the club;

B. When the club anticipates holding regular meetings;

C. Any materials which the club plans to use to solicit membership or to inform others of the club’s existence;

D. A description of anticipated club activities;

E. A copy of the club’s proposed charter.

A supervising monitor will be assigned to the club upon approval of the application.

Delegation of Authority to Local Schools

The Board hereby authorizes local school principal to review applications for clubs. No school club shall be authorized unless the local school principal determines that its charter complies with this policy and that authorization of the club will not interfere with the local school’s ability to:

A. Protect the physical, emotional, psychological or moral well-being of students and faculty;

B. Maintain order and discipline on school premises; or

C. Prevent a material and substantial interference with orderly conduct of the school’s education activity.

The local school principal shall deny any access to any club whose program or activities would materially and substantially:

A. Encourage criminal or delinquent conduct;

B. Promote bigotry;

C. Involve human sexuality.

The local school principal may grant access to the club but condition such access on the change of the club name to insure that the club name:

A. Accurately reflects the actual nature, purpose and activities of the club; or

B. Will not result in undue disruption of school operations, subject students to harassment or persecution, imply inappropriate association with any non-school organizations or groups, or imply that the club would operate in violation of laws or rules.

Utah Admin. Code R277-617-3.H

C. Monitored student sponsored clubs will not use the name of the school or district as part of their title or otherwise imply school or district sponsorship.

Appeal of Denial of Access

The applications of all student clubs shall be reviewed by the local school principal. If a student club is denied access, or granted access but required to change its name, any affected person may appeal to the Board of Education or its designee for review of the decision. Such appeal shall be made within thirty (30) days of a decision by the principal.

Board Hearing

The Board of Education or its designee may convene a hearing and/or hold public hearings to determine whether any student sponsored club was properly denied access or required to change its name.

NON-CURRICULUM STUDENT SPONSORED CLUB (7-12)

The district may recognize a non-curriculum student sponsored club only if the following conditions are met:

A. If the Board elects to maintain a “limited open forum,” and then it must grant equal access to all non-curriculum student sponsored clubs meeting the criteria of this policy.

B. The club is not directly related to school curriculum.

C. The school district does not sponsor the student sponsored clubs but recognizes it for purposes of granting a place within the particular school to meet during non-instruction time.

D. A supervising monitor attends all meetings held on school premises but does not participate in any activity or discussion of any club touching upon issues of religion or conscience.

E. The club is appropriate under provisions of this policy.

Reservation of Right to Close Forum

The Board of Education reserves the right to create a “closed forum” by refusing to recognize any club that is not a curriculum related club and by refusing to allow any non-curriculum student club to use school property during the non-instructional day.

Equal Access for Student Clubs

The school district must meet the following requirements if access is granted to qualifying non-curriculum student sponsored clubs:

A. Meetings of student clubs are voluntary and student initiated;

B. There is no sponsorship of student club meetings by the school district or by district employees;

C. Employees of the school district are present at religious club meetings only in a nonparticipatory capacity;

D. Meetings of student clubs do not materially or substantially interfere with the orderly conduct of education activities within the school;

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

20 U.S.C. § 4071

F. The school principal will review applications on a case-by-case basis and refuse to grant access to any student club which:

G. The application procedure has been complied with by the student club.

H. Upon review, a school principal may grant access, or grant access conditioned upon a change of name to reflect the real purposes and goals of the club.

I. Non-curriculum student sponsored clubs may not meet while supervising monitor is fulfilling instructional time.

J. The principal or a designee may determine which school facilities may be used and when they are available provided that all such clubs shall be given equal access.

K. Only enrolled students attending the particular school may request to use rooms or schedule club meetings.

L. The school principal may require minor students to obtain written permission from a parent/guardian to participate in the meetings of the club.

M. Each school principal shall determine what access all student clubs will be given to the school newspaper, school yearbook, bulletin boards and public address system and the time, place and manner of student club meetings; provided that all such clubs shall be given equal access.

N. No student club shall be permitted to engage in or conduct group therapy, counseling or other psychological services of the type provided by licensed professionals.

Utah Admin. Code R277-617-3(b)(3)(D)

Construction of Policy with Respect to Certain Rights

Nothing in this policy is intended to:

A. Influence the form or content of any prayer or other religious activity;

B. Require any person, student, or employee to participate in any prayer or other religious activities;

C. Authorize any expenditure of district or student body funds beyond the incidental cost of providing space for student-initiated meetings;

D. Limit the rights of groups of students which are not of a specified numerical size;

E. Compel any school employee to attend a meeting of a non-curriculum student sponsored club if the content of the speech at the meeting is contrary to the beliefs of the employee;

F. Sanction meetings that are otherwise unlawful; or

G. Abridge the constitutional rights of any person.

20 U.S.C. § 4071