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.

Cross Reference:         
217.3   Board of Directors and Adjoining District Board of Directors
302.3   Administration and Adjoining District Administration
410.1   Shared Licensed Employees

Approved:  September 2007
Reviewed:  May 2018

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 six shall be appropriate.  A reasonable amount of homework is required in grades seven through twelve.

Guidelines regarding homework shall be developed in conjunction with the curriculum of the education program.

Cross Reference:         
501      Student Attendance
606      Instructional Arrangements

Approved:  September 2007
Reviewed:  May 2018

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 shall have a secular purpose and shall not advocate or sponsor a particular religion.

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.

Cross Reference:         
603      Instructional Curriculum
604.6   Religious-Based Exclusion From A School Program

Approved:  September 2007
Reviewed:  May 2018

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 shall be the responsibility of the principal to determine appropriate supervision of animals in the classroom.

Cross Reference:         
507      Student Health and Well-Being

Approved:  September 2007
Reviewed:  May 2018

Materials and services produced by students at the expense of the school district are the property of the school district.  Materials and services produced by students at the student's expense, except for incidental expense to the school district, are the property of the student.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to determine incidental expense.

Cross Reference:         
408.2   Licensed Employee Publication or Creation of Materials

Approved:  September 2007
Reviewed:  May 2018

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 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 board's approval will be required for field trips and excursions overnight or outside the state.

Field trips and excursions are to be arranged with the principal well in advance.  A detailed schedule and budget must be submitted by the employee.  The school district will be responsible for obtaining a substitute teacher if one is needed.  Following field trips and excursions, the teacher may be required to submit a written summary of the event. 

Cross Reference:         
503.1   Student Conduct
503.4   Good Conduct Rule
603      Instructional Curriculum
711      Transportation

Approved:  September 2007
Reviewed:  May 2018

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 the building principal or superintendent consider relevant.

Cross Reference:         
504      Student Activities

Approved:  September 2007
Reviewed:  May 2018

Insufficient classroom space shall be 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 shall be reviewed by the board annually.  It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to bring this policy to the attention of the board each year.

Cross Reference:         
105      Long-Range Needs Assessment
501.15 Open Enrollment Transfers - Procedures as a Receiving District

Approved:  September 2007
Reviewed:  May 2018

The school academic year for students shall be for a minimum of one-hundred and eighty 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 board may also excuse graduating seniors from making up days due to inclement weather if the student has met the school district's graduation requirements.

The superintendent has the authority to deny early release, or reduce the number of days for which graduating seniors 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.

Cross Reference:         
501      Student Attendance
601.1   School Calendar

Approved:  September 2007
Reviewed:  May 2018