Superintendent Guidelines for Materials Sent Home with Students
In accordance with Board Policy 9700, any request from civic institutions, charitable organizations, or special interest groups which involve sending promotional materials home with students must be carefully reviewed to ensure that such activities promote student interests without advancing the special interests of any particular group.
It is the policy of the Board of Education that students, staff members, and District facilities not be used for advertising or promoting the interests of any non-school agency or organization, public or private, without the approval of the Board or its delegated representative; and any such approval, granted for whatever cause or group, shall not be construed as an endorsement of said cause or group by the Board.
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The school mail system is not to be used by students or staff for distribution of non school-related materials.
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No materials from any profit-making organization may be distributed for students to take home to their parents; unless authorized by the Superintendent.
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Flyers/notices from outside non-profit organizations may be made available for students to pick up at the literature distribution rack/table by the school building’s office, under the following circumstances:
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The flyer/notice publicizes a specific community activity or event that is age appropriate for the students that attend the school.
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The organization submits the number of copies of the flyer that it wants placed in the literature/distribution rack/table.
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The following statement must appear on the flyer/notice: “(Organization’s name) is not affiliated with or endorsed by Howell Public Schools.”
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No student shall be required to take any of the flyers/notices placed in the literature/distribution rack/table, and the rack/table shall contain a clear notice that the Board does not support or endorse any of the organizations and/or activities/events identified in the flyer/notices.
Approved for distribution for students to take home:
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Printed or electronic communication that reflects our own Howell Public Schools instructional/curricular, co-curricular, and athletic programs;
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Printed or electronic communication generated by our schools or our PTO’s that are necessary to promote our school and PTO programs and initiatives.
Approved for distribution for students to take home AFTER approved and signed by the Superintendent, or his designee:
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Howell Area Parks and Recreation printed or electronic communication, but only insofar as that the information contains program offerings available to our students, and only at the level to which those programs apply;
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Chamber of Commerce printed or electronic materials, but only insofar as that material may advertise the Chamber’s nonprofit community events;
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District nonprofit partnerships with direct benefit to the student body;
Approved for display for student/parent pick up at the literature distribution rack/table by the school building’s main office AFTER approved and signed by the Superintendent, or his designee:
Requests must be submitted for review one month in advance of the requested distribution/display date. Requests should be sent to [email protected] and must be delivered to the building two weeks in advance of the requested distribution/display date.
All materials that comport with these restrictions and that come into the school from an outside agency/group must be counted, organized and labeled for distribution. School staff are not available to assist in such activities.