JHC, Student Organizations

FILE: JHC

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

The Assumption Parish School Board, recognizing the importance of worthwhile organizations in the school, encourages all students to participate in student organizations and club activities. Students shall have the right to form organizations within the school for cultural, social, athletic, and other authorized purposes which will enrich and extend their education. Such groups shall follow administrative regulations and procedures developed and maintained by the Superintendent and staff governing the creation and operation of student organizations and clubs in accordance with School Board policy.

Student organizations or clubs shall not deny membership to any student because of race, color, creed, sex, national origin, or disability.

Principals shall be responsible for approving or authorizing any student activity and/or organization and shall also be responsible for the operation and oversight of all student activities or organizations to assure compliance with administrative regulations.

Clubs and organizations are an integral part of the educational program. They provide an excellent opportunity to provide the necessary social development. Clubs which are inactive, disorganized, poorly led or with poorly defined objectives may be a negative influence. All clubs and organizations are basically school service organizations. Each club should always concern itself first with constant self-evaluation of its contribution to the overall school community. The gathering of an isolated group or groups who place themselves on a different plane from the majority and push for privileges above and beyond those generally offered can scarcely add to the tenor of the school.

All organizations shall follow these basic suggestions:

1.	Insist on orderly democratic conduct at all meetings.
2.	Have an agenda from the program committee well in advance of any scheduled meeting.
3.	Write a monthly progress report referring to the club's objectives and their relationship to the school.
4.	Provide leadership opportunities to as many members as possible.
5.	Have officers and committees meet at regular intervals for planning purposes.
6.	Involve everyone in the organization's activities.
7.	Insist on complete line of communication between the sponsors and club officers.
8.	Actively support the projects of other organizations.
9.	Any student group meeting must be attended by a faculty member.
10.	Submit frequent progress reports to the office.
11.	Any announcement by an organization must be approved by the advisor.
12.	Any activity sponsored by an organization off the campus must have two (2) predetermined faculty members in attendance.

EQUAL ACCESS

As provided by the Federal Equal Access Act, any school which allows non-curriculum related groups access to school facilities during non-instructional time must adhere to the following criteria:

1.	Equal access will not be denied on the basis of religious, political, philosophical or other content of such meetings or organizations;
2.	The meetings are voluntary and student-initiated;
3.	There is no sponsorship of the meetings by the school, the government, or its agents or employees;
4.	Employees or agents of the school or government are present at religious meetings only in a non-participatory capacity;
5.	The meetings do not materially and substantially interfere with the orderly conduct of educational activities within the school;
6.	Non-school persons may not direct, conduct, control, or regularly attend activities of student groups; and
7.	If access is given to school media such as bulletin boards, newspapers, or public address systems, it must be given to all non-curriculum related clubs on an equal basis.

Revised: February, 2003

Adopted: March 19, 2003

Ref: 20 USC 4071-4074 (Equal Access)

20 USC 7905 (Equal access to public school facilities)

La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:2091

Board minutes, 3-19-03

Assumption Parish School Board