9150 School Visitors
9150 - SCHOOL VISITORS
In order to protect the educational program of the schools from undue disturbance, each principal shall establish guidelines and procedures for visitors which shall include the following:
A. Persons wishing to visit school are to make arrangement in advance through the school office
B. Every visitor to a school must register at the school office. Sign-in lists showing name, time, person visiting, and time departing shall be maintained by the office. Any person who does not register with the school office is on school property without authorization and should be asked to identify himself/herself properly and obtain permission or to leave the school grounds. If the visitor refuses to leave the school grounds or creates any disturbance, the building principal should request aid from the sheriff.
C. No visitor may see a student in school unless it is with the specific approval of the office. If an emergency situation requires that a student be called to the office to meet with a visitor, a member of the administrative staff must be present during the conference. A student is never to be permitted to leave the school with anyone who is not clearly identified as his/her parent or an appropriately authorized person.
D. Students may not bring guests to school unless permission to do so has been granted by the District Administrator.
E. Parents, other than those who have been asked by a teacher to be in the classroom, who wish to observe learning activities taking place in their child's classroom are to confer, in advance, with the principal and the teacher and state the purpose of the visitation.
It is important that each parent understands that because classroom visitations can be distractive to the students, the following guidelines have been established:
In order to protect the educational program of the schools from undue disturbance, each principal shall establish guidelines and procedures for visitors which shall include the following:
A. Persons wishing to visit school are to make arrangement in advance through the school office
B. Every visitor to a school must register at the school office. Sign-in lists showing name, time, person visiting, and time departing shall be maintained by the office. Any person who does not register with the school office is on school property without authorization and should be asked to identify himself/herself properly and obtain permission or to leave the school grounds. If the visitor refuses to leave the school grounds or creates any disturbance, the building principal should request aid from the sheriff.
C. No visitor may see a student in school unless it is with the specific approval of the office. If an emergency situation requires that a student be called to the office to meet with a visitor, a member of the administrative staff must be present during the conference. A student is never to be permitted to leave the school with anyone who is not clearly identified as his/her parent or an appropriately authorized person.
D. Students may not bring guests to school unless permission to do so has been granted by the District Administrator.
E. Parents, other than those who have been asked by a teacher to be in the classroom, who wish to observe learning activities taking place in their child's classroom are to confer, in advance, with the principal and the teacher and state the purpose of the visitation.
It is important that each parent understands that because classroom visitations can be distractive to the students, the following guidelines have been established:
1. Visitations will not be allowed during examinations
2. The number of visitors at any one (1) time should not exceed two (2) parents.
2. The number of visitors at any one (1) time should not exceed two (2) parents.
F. Parents are to be silent observers and are not to create any type of disturbance or disruption to the learning process.
G. Copies of instructional materials being used by the students or teacher may not always be immediately available during the visitation.
H. Any comments made by individual students are to be maintained in confidence by the visitor to the activity.
I. Use of audio or visual equipment to record classroom activities must be approved by the principal and the teacher. No visitor shall be allowed to videotape students in the classroom, without the prior consent of the principal, as it may violate the privacy rights of students unrelated to the visitor. Recording of other school activities to which the public is invited will be in accordance with AG 9160 - Attendance at Public Events.
J. If the nature and instructional purpose of any activity calls for students to be segregated by gender for purposes of privacy, only visitors of the same gender may observe those groups in the privacy areas.
K. Any comments or concerns are to be discussed with the teacher before or after the school day when students are not present.
L. If a parent or other visitor wishes to tape record a conversation with a teacher or the principal, s/he should request permission from the teacher or principal although the person is not obligated to do so. If the teacher or principal wishes to record a conversation with a parent or other visitor, s/he is to inform that person that the conversation is being recorded before the conversation begins.
A copy of these guidelines (Form 9150 F1) is to be given to and signed by each nonstaff visitor to a classroom as an indication that s/he understands the guideline.
Visitors are to be encouraged to meet with the principal and teacher during noninstructional hours to discuss the observation and to obtain answers to their questions. If a parent has a concern about what may be transpiring in his/her child's classroom, s/he should follow the Board's Policy 9130 which states that the parent is to address the matter first with the teacher and, if not rectified, to then meet with the principal.
G. Copies of instructional materials being used by the students or teacher may not always be immediately available during the visitation.
H. Any comments made by individual students are to be maintained in confidence by the visitor to the activity.
I. Use of audio or visual equipment to record classroom activities must be approved by the principal and the teacher. No visitor shall be allowed to videotape students in the classroom, without the prior consent of the principal, as it may violate the privacy rights of students unrelated to the visitor. Recording of other school activities to which the public is invited will be in accordance with AG 9160 - Attendance at Public Events.
J. If the nature and instructional purpose of any activity calls for students to be segregated by gender for purposes of privacy, only visitors of the same gender may observe those groups in the privacy areas.
K. Any comments or concerns are to be discussed with the teacher before or after the school day when students are not present.
L. If a parent or other visitor wishes to tape record a conversation with a teacher or the principal, s/he should request permission from the teacher or principal although the person is not obligated to do so. If the teacher or principal wishes to record a conversation with a parent or other visitor, s/he is to inform that person that the conversation is being recorded before the conversation begins.
A copy of these guidelines (Form 9150 F1) is to be given to and signed by each nonstaff visitor to a classroom as an indication that s/he understands the guideline.
Visitors are to be encouraged to meet with the principal and teacher during noninstructional hours to discuss the observation and to obtain answers to their questions. If a parent has a concern about what may be transpiring in his/her child's classroom, s/he should follow the Board's Policy 9130 which states that the parent is to address the matter first with the teacher and, if not rectified, to then meet with the principal.
M. Except as set forth in District policy or in the case of "service animals" required for use by a person with a disability, no other animals may be on school premises at any time.
N. No staff member is to transact business with a visitor who does not have visitor's pass and has not duly registered at the school office and received authorization to be present for the purpose of conducting business.
If a disabled person should visit a school and request accommodation and s/he has not submitted the Request for Accommodation Form 9160A F1, in advance, the principal should ask the person to allow the school adequate time to arrange for the accommodation, providing such accommodation is reasonable (see AG 9160A).
© Neola 2011
N. No staff member is to transact business with a visitor who does not have visitor's pass and has not duly registered at the school office and received authorization to be present for the purpose of conducting business.
If a disabled person should visit a school and request accommodation and s/he has not submitted the Request for Accommodation Form 9160A F1, in advance, the principal should ask the person to allow the school adequate time to arrange for the accommodation, providing such accommodation is reasonable (see AG 9160A).
© Neola 2011
9150 - SCHOOL VISITORS
The Board of Education welcomes and encourages visits to school by parents, other adult residents of the community and interested educators. But in order for the educational program to continue undisturbed when visitors are present and to prevent the intrusion of disruptive persons into the schools, it is necessary to establish visitor guidelines.
Except as set forth in District Policy 8405 or in the case of "service animals" required for use by a person with a disability, no other animals may be on school premises at any time except with the approval of the District Administrator.
The District Administrator has the authority to prohibit the entry of any person to a school of this District or to expel any person when there is reason to believe the presence of such person would be detrimental to the good order of the school. If such an individual refuses to leave the school grounds or creates a disturbance, the District Administrator is authorized to request from the local law enforcement agency whatever assistance is required to remove the individual.
Nonstaff access to students and classes must be limited and only in accordance with a schedule which has been determined by the District Administrator after consultation with the teacher whose classroom is being visited. Classroom visitations must be nonobtrusive to the educative process and learning environment and should not occur on an excessive basis.
Parent concerns about any aspect of his/her child's educational program should be presented through the procedure set forth in Board Policy 9130 - Public Complaints, a copy of which is available at the Board office and at each school.
The District Administrator shall promulgate such administrative guidelines as are necessary to protect students and employees from disruption to the educational program or the efficient conduct of their assigned tasks.
Individual Board members who are interested in visiting schools or classrooms on an unofficial basis shall make the appropriate arrangements with the District Administrator. In keeping with Board bylaws, such Board member visits shall not be considered to be official unless designated as such by the Board.
The Board member shall be visiting as an interested individual in a similar capacity of any parent or citizen of the community. These visits should not be considered to be inspections nor as supervisory in nature.
If, during a visit to a school or program, a Board member observes a situation or condition which causes concern, s/he should discuss the situation first with the District Administrator as soon as convenient or appropriate. Such a report or discussion shall not be considered an official one from the Board.
© Neola 2011
The Board of Education welcomes and encourages visits to school by parents, other adult residents of the community and interested educators. But in order for the educational program to continue undisturbed when visitors are present and to prevent the intrusion of disruptive persons into the schools, it is necessary to establish visitor guidelines.
Except as set forth in District Policy 8405 or in the case of "service animals" required for use by a person with a disability, no other animals may be on school premises at any time except with the approval of the District Administrator.
The District Administrator has the authority to prohibit the entry of any person to a school of this District or to expel any person when there is reason to believe the presence of such person would be detrimental to the good order of the school. If such an individual refuses to leave the school grounds or creates a disturbance, the District Administrator is authorized to request from the local law enforcement agency whatever assistance is required to remove the individual.
Nonstaff access to students and classes must be limited and only in accordance with a schedule which has been determined by the District Administrator after consultation with the teacher whose classroom is being visited. Classroom visitations must be nonobtrusive to the educative process and learning environment and should not occur on an excessive basis.
Parent concerns about any aspect of his/her child's educational program should be presented through the procedure set forth in Board Policy 9130 - Public Complaints, a copy of which is available at the Board office and at each school.
The District Administrator shall promulgate such administrative guidelines as are necessary to protect students and employees from disruption to the educational program or the efficient conduct of their assigned tasks.
Individual Board members who are interested in visiting schools or classrooms on an unofficial basis shall make the appropriate arrangements with the District Administrator. In keeping with Board bylaws, such Board member visits shall not be considered to be official unless designated as such by the Board.
The Board member shall be visiting as an interested individual in a similar capacity of any parent or citizen of the community. These visits should not be considered to be inspections nor as supervisory in nature.
If, during a visit to a school or program, a Board member observes a situation or condition which causes concern, s/he should discuss the situation first with the District Administrator as soon as convenient or appropriate. Such a report or discussion shall not be considered an official one from the Board.
© Neola 2011