The school district seeks to protect the right of students to exercise
the freedom of speech and expression while maintaining an environment
supportive of the district’s educational mission. This policy applies to
students and student organizations. Material disseminated by groups or
individuals other than students must comply with the policy on Dissemination of
Non-School Sponsored Materials.
I.
Material
or items produced, distributed, or displayed within school district property
shall meet the following criteria:
A. Material
shall not contain libelous or obscene language. Libelous language and obscene
language are language that is considered libelous or obscene under controlling
legal definitions.
B. Material
shall not advocate illegal actions.
C. Material shall not advocate actions or create situations that
threaten to disrupt school activities. For a student’s speech or expression to
be considered disruptive, there must exist facts upon which it is reasonable to
forecast the likelihood of an immediate and substantial disruption of school
activities resulting from such expression.
“School activities” means
educational activity sponsored by the school and includes, by way of example
and not by way of limitation, classroom work, library activities, physical
education classes, official assemblies and other similar gatherings, school
athletic contests, music concerts, school plays, and in-school lunch periods
whether taking place the Montpelier Public Schools or in another location
D. Material
shall not violate the Montpelier School District’s harassment or bullying
policies or state or federal laws regarding harassment and bullying.
E. Material
published, posted, or otherwise distributed shall bear the names of one or more
students principally involved in the promotion of this material, and when
applicable, the name of the sponsoring student organization or group. In
addition, notices placed upon school bulletin boards for non-school sponsored
groups must bear a notice that the activity is not sponsored by the Montpelier
School District.
F. Distributors
of materials will be held responsible for cleaning up litter caused by such
distribution.
G. Material shall be non-commercial unless approved by the school
administration as contributing significantly to the Montpelier School
District’s instructional program or to the well being of the general community.
II.
In
order to facilitate the posting, dissemination, or exhibition of material, the
following specific criteria shall be part of the policy governing student
expression:
A.
Posters,
Pamphlets, Newspapers, Flyers, etc.
1. Such material dealing with school-sponsored activities shall have
the approval of the faculty advisor.
2. Such material dealing with non-school activities shall have the
approval of the principal.
B.
Public
Address System
Use of the public address system of the schools by student groups or
individuals is prohibited unless such use has been approved in advance by the school
administration or its designee.
C.
Approval
of Material
Each school shall develop a procedure that ensures student requests are expeditiously reviewed by appropriate personnel for approval or disapproval prior to dissemination.
III.
Dress
Code
A. The
school district recognizes that student dress is a fundamental aspect of
self-expression. Nonetheless, appropriate attire is important to the education,
health, and safety of each student.
B. The
school system reserves the right to maintain that clothing and appearance shall
meet the criteria of:
1. hygiene (cleanliness)
2. safety (for self, property, and others)
3. lack of distraction (extreme fashions)
C. Students may not wear articles of clothing that contain profanity
or encourage the use of alcohol or illegal substances such as drugs, or
encourage illegal activities. In case of doubt as to the suitability of a
particular student’s appearance or attire, a faculty member shall bring the
matter to the attention of the principal. The faculty member and principal
shall discuss the situation with the student. If the matter cannot be readily
resolved, those three shall discuss it with the student’s parent or guardian.
Failure to comply with reasonable requests to modify appearance or dress may
result in appropriate action to restore an environment supportive of the
district’s educational mission.
D. Students
who seek to express themselves through dress shall conform to the criteria in
I.A. through D. above.
Date Warned: October 21, 2004
Date Adopted: November 3, 2004