| Streetsboro City School District |
| Bylaws & Policies |
5722 - SCHOOL SPONSORED PUBLICATIONS
The Board of Education may sponsor student publications as a means for students to learn, under adult direction, the rights and responsibilities of the press in a free society.
For purposes of this policy, "publications" shall include any audio, visual, or written materials such as tapes, banners, films, pamphlets, notices, newspapers, books, or other like materials.
Such publications also play a vital role in the school program by:
| A. | interpreting students and the school to the community; | |
| B. | serving as a public relations media; | |
| C. | developing skills in communicating via the mass media; | |
| D. | developing acceptable methods for preserving the constitutional provision of free speech. |
In sponsoring a student publication, the Board is mindful of the fact that the publication could be available to any student attending this school, and must, therefore, be generally suitable for all students.
Issues on which opposing points of view have been promulgated by responsible opinion may be introduced in a school sponsored publication provided both sides of the issue are given equal opportunity to present their views.
Advertising is permitted in school newspapers, yearbooks, programs, etc. which are published by student organizations. Permission for the advertising must be approved by the Superintendent.
The Board reserves the right to designate and prohibit the distribution of publications which are not protected by the right of free expression because they violate the rights of others. Such unprotected materials are those which:
| A. | are grossly prejudicial to an ethnic, religious, racial, or other delineated group; | |
| B. | libel any specific person or persons; | |
| C. | seek to establish the supremacy of a particular religious denomination, sect, or point of view over any other religious denomination, sect, or point of view; | |
| D. | advocate the use or advertise the availability of any substance or material which may reasonably be believed to constitute a direct and substantial danger to the health of students; | |
| E. | contain obscenity or material otherwise deemed to be harmful to impressionable students who may receive them; | |
| F. | incite violence, advocate the use of force, or urge the violation of law or school guidelines. |
The Board also prohibits publications which:
| A. | fail to identify the student or organization responsible for distribution; | |
| B. | solicit funds for nonschool organizations or institutions when such solicitations have not been approved by the Board; | |
| C. | promote, favor, or oppose any candidate for election to the Board or the adoption of any bond issue, proposal, or question submitted at any election. |
The decision on publication shall be made by the advisor with appeal to the principal and Superintendent.
R.C. 3313.20