Code No. 606.1
SHARED STUDENTS
The board may make arrangements for sharing students with neighboring school districts in order to expand the opportunities available in the education program or in the operation of the school district. It shall be within the discretion of the board to determine when and with which school district sharing agreements will be made.
It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to bring to the board's attention opportunities for sharing students with neighboring school districts.
Legal Reference:
Iowa Code § 257.6, .42; 280.15; 282.10-.12, .15
Approved 9-13-93 Reviewed 8-15-2022 Revised 9-21-2020
Code No. 606.2
CLASS SIZE -CLASS GROUPING
It shall be within the sole discretion of the board to determine the size of classes and to determine whether class grouping shall take place. The board shall review the class sizes annually.
It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to make a recommendation to the board on class size based upon the financial condition of the school district, the qualifications of and number of licensed employees, and other factors deemed relevant to the board.
Legal Reference:
Iowa Code § 279.8; 280.3
Approved 9-13-93 Reviewed 5-6-13 Revised 9-21-2020
Code No. 606.3
HOMEWORK
Homework, extra class activities or assignments beyond the regular classroom instruction program are a part of the education program. Homework will be an extension and an enrichment of the classroom instruction.
Homework shall be an opportunity for students to practice skills and activities, to share and discuss ideas, to review materials, to become acquainted with resources, to organize thoughts, to prepare for classroom activity, or to make up incomplete assignments.
The amount of homework in grades one through five shall be minimal. A reasonable amount of homework is required in grades six through twelve.
Guidelines regarding homework shall be developed in conjunction with the curriculum of the education program.
Legal Reference:
Iowa Code § 279.8; 280.3, .14
Approved 9-13-93 Reviewed 5-6-13 Revised 9-21-2020
Code No. 606.4
SCHOOL CEREMONIES AND OBSERVANCES
The school district will continue school ceremonies and observances which have become a tradition and a custom of the education program. These include, but are not limited to, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and observance of holidays, such as Christmas, Halloween and Easter, by programs and performances. Such ceremonies or observances will have a secular purpose and will not advocate or sponsor a particular religion.
The district will provide and maintain a suitable flagstaff at each school site and raise the Iowa and United States flags each school day as weather conditions permit. The district will display the United States flag and administer the Pledge of Allegiance in each 1st through 12th grade classroom on school days.
Students who do not wish to participate in these activities may be silent during the ceremony or observance or receive permission from the principal to be excused from the ceremony for religious reasons in compliance with board policy.
Legal Reference:
U.S. Const. amend. I.
Lee v. Weisman, 112 S.Ct. 2649 (1992).
Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971).
Graham v. Central Community School District of Decatur County, 608 F.Supp. 531 (S.D. Iowa 1985).
Iowa Code § 279.8; 280.5
Approved 9-13-93 Reviewed 5-6-13 Revised 7-19-2021
Code No. 606.5
ANIMALS IN THE CLASSROOM
Live animals will not be allowed in school district facilities except under special circumstances and only for an educational purpose. Permission from the principal will be required of anyone wishing to bring an animal into school district facilities. Appropriate supervision of animals is required when animals are brought into the school district facilities.
The person bringing the animal must furnish transportation for the animal brought to school. Animals will not be allowed to travel to and from the student's attendance center on the school bus without prior approval from the principal.
It is the responsibility of the principal to determine appropriate supervision of animals in the classroom. This policy is not intended to address the use of service animals, assistive animals, therapy animals or emotional support animals on District property.
Legal Reference:
Iowa Code § 279.8
Approved 9-13-93 Reviewed 5-6-13 Revised 9-21-2020
Code No. 606.6
STUDENT PRODUCTION OF MATERIALS AND SERVICES
Materials and services produced by students at the expense of the school district shall be the property of the district. Materials and services produced by students at the student expense, except for incidental expense to the school district, shall be the property of the student.
It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to determine incidental expense.
Legal Reference:
Iowa Code § 279.8
Approved 9-13-93 Reviewed 8-15-2022 Revised 9-21-2020
Code No. 606.7
STUDENT FIELD TRIPS AND EXCURSIONS
The principal may authorize field trips and excursions when such events contribute to the achievement of education goals of the school district. The school district will provide transportation for field trips and excursions.
In authorizing field trips and excursions, the building principal shall consider the financial condition of the school district, the educational benefit of the activity, the inherent risks or dangers of the activity, and other factors deemed relevant by the superintendent. Written parental permission will be required prior to the student's participation in field trips and excursions. The superintendent's approval will be required for field trips and excursions outside the satae and continental United States. Board approval shall be required for field trips and excursions which involve unusual length or expense.
Field trips and excursions are to be arranged with the building principal well in advance. A detailed schedule and budget must be submitted by the teacher. The school district will be responsible for obtaining a substitute teacher if one is needed. Following the field trips and excursions, the teacher may be required to submit a written summary of the event.
Legal Reference:
390 C.F.R. Pt. 390.3f
Iowa Code 279.8
281 I.A.C. 43.9
Approved 9-13-93 Reviewed 5-6-13 Revised 9-21-2020
Code No. 606.8
SCHOOL ASSEMBLY
The building principal may authorize programs or activities in the form of a school assembly when such events contribute to the achievement of education goals of the school district. School assemblies shall comply with the school calendar.
In authorizing a school assembly, the building principal shall consider the financial condition of the school district, the educational benefit of the activity, the inherent risks or dangers of the activity, and other factors as the building principal or superintendent consider relevant.
It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to inform the board of the approved school assemblies.
Legal Reference:
Iowa Code § 279.8; 280.3, .14
Approved 9-13-93 Reviewed 5-6-13 Revised 10-19-2020
Code No. 606.9
INSUFFICIENT CLASSROOM SPACE
It is the goal of the district to create learning environments that encourage the growth and development of each student. Providing classrooms with an appropriate student-teacher ratio is central to achieving this goal. Insufficient classroom space exists when conditions in the district adversely affect the implementation of the district’s goals and its educational program.
Insufficient classroom space is determined on a case-by-case basis.
In making its determination whether insufficient classroom space exists, the board may consider several factors, including but not limited to, the nature of the education program, the grade level, the available licensed employees, the instructional method, the physical space, student-teacher ratios, equipment and materials, facilities either being planned or under construction, facilities planned to be closed, financial condition of the school district and projected to be available, a sharing agreement in force or planned, a bargaining agreement in force, laws or rules governing special education class size, board-adopted school district goals and objectives, and other factors considered relevant by the board.
This policy is reviewed by the board annually. It is the responsibility of the superintendent to bring this policy to the attention of the board each year.
Legal Reference:
Iowa Code § 282.18 (13)
281 I.A.C. 17.6(3).
Approved 9-13-93 Reviewed 5-6-13 Revised 10-18-2021
Code No. 606.10
EARLY RELEASE FOR SENIORS
The school academic year for students shall be for a minimum of one-hundred and seventy-five days in the school calendar. Seniors may be excused up to five days of instruction after they have met the district's requirements for graduation.
The superintendent has the authority to deny early release, or reduce the number of days for which the student may be excused, if a senior has failed to meet the requirements for graduation, as a form of discipline for an individual or for the class as a whole, or if the academic year has been disrupted by school closings for severe weather or other emergencies.
Legal Reference:
Iowa Code § 20.9; 279.10
281 I.A.C. 12.2(1).
Approved 9-13-93 Reviewed 5-6-13 Revised 10-19-2020