Policy 514-R Limited Open Forum Regulations

The secondary school principals will set aside thirty (30) minutes before the start of the instructional day and one (1) hour at the end of the instructional day for a Limited Open Forum. 

The principal or his/her designee may approve student groups' use of facilities to conduct a meeting during the Limited Open Forum provided that:

A. The meeting will take place during the Limited Open Forum. 

B. The meeting is voluntary and student initiated. The principal or his/her designee must be assured that students are the ones promoting such activities and that they are participating of their own volition; a district employee must be present. Non-school persons may not assist, control or regularly attend meetings. 

C. Non–curriculum-related student groups that desire to conduct meetings during the Limited Open Forum shall make a request in writing to the building principal 48 hours prior to event. The request shall include an estimated number of students in attendance, the time and date, and any special equipment.

D. Student groups approved for Limited Open Forum will not use the school name, school mascot name, district name, or any name that might imply school or district sponsorship.

E. Board Policy 532 requires that no group shall be discriminated against or denied access.

F. Student groups shall not engage in any activity that is illegal, dangerous, or disruptive to other activities. Such activities will be grounds for discipline of an individual student and grounds for a particular group to be denied access.

G. The meeting is open to all students without regard to race, creed, gender, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, color, parental status, marital status, economic status or disability.

It is the responsibility of the building principal to:

A. Find a suitable room for the student group to use. The number of students in a particular group will be limited to the safe capacity of the meeting space.

B. Assure district supervision. This action does not constitute sponsorship by the district of such meetings, and the presence of school authorities is for the purpose of observation only. 

C. Assure that the meeting does not in any way interfere with the conduct of regular instructional activities of the school. The principal or his/her designee may deny facilities to students on the basis that such activities or meetings interfere with the instructional program. 

A. No public funds shall be spent for the benefit of non-curriculum-related student groups meeting during the Limited Open Forum beyond the cost of providing space.

B. School authorities or district employees shall not promote or lead such meetings.

C. Student meetings are not controlled, conducted, or directed by persons or groups not affiliated with the schools. Visitors to the school must obtain the permission of the principal before meeting with non-curriculum-related student groups during the Limited Open Forum.

D. Non-school persons shall be denied access to school district property if their behavior is or reasonably threatens to be illegal, dangerous, or disruptive to other activities.

• Adopted: January 10, 1194
• Amended: June 14, 2004
• Amended: October 13, 2008
• Amended: March 9, 2015
• Last Reviewed: March 9, 2015

• Policy 514 - Limited Open Forum