The Board of Education appreciates the efforts of all organizations whose objectives are to enhance the educational experiences of District students, to help meet educational needs of students and/or provide extra educational benefits not provided for, at this time by the Board.

These needs may be educational to parents and/or children. In addition to parents, membership shall be available to the District's professional staff.

The Board recognizes that parent-teacher organizations and other school-related community organizations are channels through which school personnel, parents, and other citizens may discuss educational concerns, problems and needs, and work together toward solutions.

Each volunteer organization shall work within the appropriate school setting and in cooperation with the principal and other staff members. The Board relies upon approved organizations to operate in a manner consistent with public expectations for the schools and reserves the right to withdraw approval from organizations that violate the bounds of community taste. Organizations may be formed as school-related (School Community Support Group) or independent groups (Independent Community Support Group).

Organizations of either a temporary or continuing nature may be authorized by the Board for the purpose of assisting the Board and its employees in achieving the objectives and fulfilling the purposes of the District.

Any community members desiring to establish a non-student school organization, known as a School Community Support Group, for the purpose of supporting school operations and program improvements, shall submit an application to the office of the Superintendent or designee by May 30th. Existing School Community Support Groups shall be required to submit a renewal application each year. Renewal applications are due to the office of the Superintendent or designee by May 30th; applications will be presented by the Superintendent or designee to the Board for approval.

School Community Support Groups shall have their own constitutions, bylaws, and other requirements of operation as long as such items are not contrary to Board policies or to the general goals and purposes of the School District. Each group must submit these items to the Board for its approval and shall abide by the policies of the Board and any administrative guidelines established.

Procedural documents may define the membership, establish nominal membership dues, provide for an executive committee and its duties, and establish rules for quorums and voting rights. Where it may be necessary to have restrictions or definitions of membership classes, such requirements will in no way be based on gender, creed, nationality, race, or any other restriction considered discriminatory under Federal and State statutes. Each group must submit these items to the Board for its approval and shall abide by the policies of the Board and any administrative guidelines established.

The Superintendent and other administrators designated by the Superintendent shall be responsible for the direction of School Community Support Organizations and for ensuring that their activities are consistent with the policies, practices, and purposes of the School District.

School Community Support Groups shall have existence exclusively by the authorization of the Board and shall have the authority to act as agents of the Board or its employees only as specifically approved by the Board or administration.

Property of the organizations, which is intended for use by the students or to be used in the operation of the school program, shall be titled to the District. All such property shall be subject to the Board and designated administrators as to its use, maintenance, or continuance in operation. In the interest of the purpose of these support groups, the Board's exercise of its responsibilities will be in accord with the wishes of the support group whenever possible. All purchase of equipment, instructional material, or improvements to the buildings or grounds must be approved prior to purchases by the designated administrator. Purchases, which require an annual expenditure or entail future expenditures or maintenance costs, shall be made on the basis of the support group being responsible for the future expenditures. If in specific cases where the Board agrees to assume some future costs, the Board reserves the right to discontinue the expenditure in the future.

Assets and finances of the organizations shall be subject to the supervision and audit of the Board. The Superintendent or designee shall, as necessary, provide specific directions for the fulfilling of this supervision and audit.

School Community Support Groups shall submit by June 30th, in a format prescribed by the Superintendent or designee, a financial statement and a report summarizing the organization's activities.

Such organizations may conduct activities to raise funds subject to policies and procedures developed by the Board or administration. The Superintendent or designee may implement administrative guidelines, which ensure each group's fund-raising activities are in compliance with Board policies and that the funds are used for school-related projects that have the approval of the Superintendent and principal.

School community group officers who collect or disburse monies for any purpose shall be required to be bonded. The amount of the bond shall be determined by the Board. The bond shall cover all persons responsible for depositing or expending funds in the name of the School Community Support Group.

Employees of the District shall not be named on the bank accounts of any School Community Support Group.

School Community Support Groups may affiliate with or obtain membership in regional, State, or national organizations of a similar nature provided the responsibilities of such membership or affiliation is not contrary to the policies of the District.

Said organizations shall conduct, organize, and supervise activities which are related to the general purposes of the District and primarily for the benefit of students. Students may be used to assist in such activities, but shall not be required to participate in such activities.

These organizations shall have no responsibility for, or authority for supervising, controlling, evaluating, or determining the work of employees. Said organizations shall have no responsibility or authority for evaluating, supervising, or determining the curriculum and instructional program of the District except as specifically requested to do so by the Superintendent or designee and for the purpose of acting as advisory groups to the Board or administration.

Organizations authorized by the Board in accord with this policy shall be afforded various privileges to fulfill their purposes; however, the exercise of such privileges is subject to administrative procedures and policies established by the Superintendent or designee. Such privileges will normally include use of school mailing facilities, use of the District's various newsletters and communications with residents and parents, use of school facilities, access to staff, and the use of various school services and materials. Where appropriate and necessary, charges may be made for such services or facilities.

All activities of the organizations must be approved by the administrator assigned by the Superintendent or designee to act as a supervisor of the organization.

For various reasons, organizations which have status as legally incorporated bodies may be established with the approval and continued support of the Board. Any community members desiring to establish an independent organization, known as an Independent Community Support Group, for the purpose of supporting school operations and program improvements, shall submit an application to the office of the Superintendent or designee by May 30th. Existing Independent Community Support Groups shall be required to submit a renewal application each year. Renewal applications are due to the office of the Superintendent or designee by May 30th; applications will be presented by the Superintendent or designee to the Board for approval.

For the protection of the Independent Community Support Groups and its members, Independent Community Support Groups are encouraged to be legally incorporated and obtain 501(c)3 status with the Internal Revenue Services. Such organizations, when approved by the Board and for as long as the Board authorization is extended, may be granted privileges in accord with the organizations provided for in this policy.

These organizations shall be allowed to identify as a school organization and may enjoy the privileges of School Community Organizations under this policy as long as their activities and organization are consistent with Board policy.

The Superintendent or designee shall be responsible for maintaining communication and involvement with these organizations to the degree necessary to ensure Board policies are respected. It is expected that these organizations shall regularly have school administrators in attendance and advise the appropriate administrator of all meetings and activities. It is advisable that an administrator be a member of the Executive Board or Board of Trustees of the organization.

Such organizations may own and manage property, equipment, and assets independently of the Board; however, when any such equipment is used by students or on school grounds it is subject to the regulations of the School District. Any permanent alteration of, or addition to, school buildings or grounds shall have prior approval and shall become the property of and subject to the regulations of the School District. Agreements may be made, with the express approval of the Board, for limiting the use of such equipment or building alterations to particular groups of students.

Independent Community Support Groups shall submit by June 30th, in a format prescribed by the superintendent or designee, a financial statement and a report summarizing the organization's activities along with their current years IRS Form 990 if they have obtained 501(c)3 status and are required to file IRS Form 990.

Independent community group officers who collect or disburse monies for any purpose shall be required to be bonded. The amount of the bond shall be determined by the Board. The bond shall cover all persons responsible for depositing or expending funds in the name of the Independent Community Support Group.

Employees of the District shall not be named on the bank accounts of any Independent Community Support Group.

Whenever possible, this policy and administrative guidelines for School Community Support Groups shall apply to these organizations. The Board reserves the right to seek legal restraints to prevent public or legal association with such organizations if such action were necessary in the Board's judgement.

Organizations, which exist or are formed for purposes, which are only marginally or temporarily related to the school or are contrary to the policies of the Board, shall not be allowed privileges provided organizations under this policy except as may be specifically granted by the Board in specific and individual circumstances.

Organizations which by their definition, organization, or activities are school-related, but initially develop or evolve to be wholly independent organizations with independent legal status shall not be afforded the privileges of organizations under this policy except as may be specifically granted by the Board in each individual circumstance.

Such organizations, when necessary for public reasons, will be requested to indicate that they are not sponsored by the Board and the Board reserves the right to seek legal restraints to prevent public or legal association with the organizations. All requests of such organizations for use of school services, facilities, or access to students shall be reviewed by the administration and acted upon in accord with Board policies.

The Superintendent or designee shall establish such specific procedures, rules, policies, procedures, and forms as may be necessary to ensure the activities of organizations covered under this policy are consistent with District policies and in accord with the District's best interests.