It shall be within the sole discretion of the board to determine the size of classes and to determine whether class grouping shall take place. The board shall review the class sizes annually.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to make a recommendation to the board on class size based upon the financial condition of the school district, the qualifications of and number of licensed employees, and other factors deemed relevant to the board.

Approved:  07-01-92             
Reviewed:  02-14-95, 01-12-98, 12-11-00, 01-12-04, 02-13-07, 12-14-09, 5-8-17
Revised:  12-13-22                                                    

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 legal holidays, such as Christmas, Veteran's Day, Halloween, Easter, New Years, Thanksgiving, Labor Day, Memorial Day, and Fourth of July, by programs and performances.  Such ceremonies or observances shall have a secular purpose and shall not advocate or sponsor a particular religion.

The school district will provide and maintain a suitable flagstaff at each school site and raise the Iowa and United States flags each school day as weather conditions permit. The school district will display the United States flag and administer the Pledge of Allegiance in each 1st through 12th grade classroom on school days.

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.

Approved: 07-01-92              
Reviewed:  02-14-95, 01-12-98, 12-11-00, 01-12-04, 02-13-07, 12-14-09, 5-8-17
Revised:  12-13-22

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 school district transportation without prior approval from the principal.

It shall be the responsibility of the building principal to determine appropriate supervision of animals in the classroom.  This policy is not intended to address the use of service animals, assistive animals, therapy animals or emotional support animals on school district property.

Approved:  07-01-92             
Reviewed:  02-14-95, 01-12-98, 12-11-00, 01-12-04, 02-13-07, 12-14-09, 5-8-17                                            
Revised:  12-13-22                                                

Materials and services produced by students at the expense of the school district shall be 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, shall be the property of the student.

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

Approved:  07-01-92             
Reviewed:  02-14-95, 01-12-98, 12-11-00, 01-12-04, 02-13-07, 12-14-09, 5-8-17
Revised:  12-13-22

The superintendent 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 within the state.  The school district will provide transportation for field trips and excursions outside the state if four criteria are met.  Field trips and excursions outside of the state that do not meet the four criteria will be made on alternate transportation.  The four criteria are:

• The operation or trip may be directly connected with and contribute to the educational development of the students;
• The operation must be sponsored by the school district and supervised by the school district authorities;
• The trip must be considered an official school district function; and
• The school district transportation vehicle must be transporting students, teachers, and a reasonable number of parents as chaperones.

In authorizing field trips and excursions, the superintendent 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.

Field trips and excursions are to be arranged with the superintendent well in advance.  A detailed schedule and budget must be submitted by the employee.  The office will be responsible for obtaining a substitute teacher if one is needed. Following field trips and excursions, the teacher must turn in a written summary of the event.  This summary will be included in the annual report which will be filed with the superintendent at the end of the school year.

Approved:                  
Reviewed:  01-12-98, 12-11-00, 01-12-04, 02-13-07, 12-14-09, 5-8-17
Revised:  02-14-95, 12-13-22                                    

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 as the building principal or superintendent consider relevant.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to inform the board of the approved school assemblies.

Approved:  07-01-92             
Reviewed:  02-14-95, 01-12-98, 12-11-00, 01-12-04, 02-13-04, 12-14-09, 5-8-17
Revised:  12-13-22