Logan City School District

Approval Date: April 14, 2020

FG-Clubs
Curricular and Non-curricular Student Groups

Purpose

The Board of Education of the Logan City School District has determined that the educational goals of the District are furthered by recognizing curricular clubs and those non-curricular student groups which comply with this Policy.

Definitions

The following definitions apply to this Policy:

Bigotry - means action or advocacy of imminent action involving:
- The harassment or denigration of a person or entity
- Any intent to cause a person not to freely enjoy or exercise any right secured by the constitution or laws of the United States or the state, except that an evaluation or prohibition may not be made of the truth or falsity of any religious belief or expression of conscience unless the means of expression or conduct arising therefrom violates the standards of conduct outlined by law
Club - means any student organization that meets during non-instructional time.
Conscience - means a standard based upon learned experiences, a personal philosophy or system of belief, religious teachings or doctrine, an absolute or external sense of right and wrong which is felt on an individual basis, a belief in an external absolute, or any combination of the foregoing.
Curricular club - means a club that is school sponsored and that may receive leadership, direction, and support from the school or school district beyond providing a meeting place during non-instructional time. An elementary school curricular club means a club that is organized and directed by school sponsors at the elementary school. A secondary school curricular club means a club characterized by any of the following:
- The subject matter addressed by the club is taught or will soon be taught in a regular course
- The subject matter addressed by the club concerns the body of courses as a whole
- Participation in the club is required for a particular course
- Participation in the club results in academic credit
Discretionary time - means school-related time for students that is not instructional time, including free time before and after school, during lunch, between classes, or on buses, and private time before athletics and other events or activities.
Encourage criminal or delinquent conduct - means action or advocacy of imminent action that violates any law or administrative rule, but does not include discussions concerning changing of laws or rules, or actions taken through lawfully established channels to effectuate such change.
Instructional time - means time during which a school is responsible for a student and the student is required or expected to be actively engaged in a learning activity, including instructional activities in the classroom or study hall during regularly scheduled hours, required activities outside the classroom, and counseling, private conferences, or tutoring provided by school employees or volunteers acting in their official capacities during or outside of regular school hours.
Involve human sexuality - means:
- Presenting information in violation of laws governing sex education, including Utah Code § 53G-10-402 and 53E-9-203.
- Advocating or engaging in sexual activity outside of legally recognized marriage or forbidden by state law
- Presenting or discussing information relating to the use of contraceptive devices or substances, regardless of whether the use is for purposes of contraception or personal health.
Limited open forum - means a forum created by the District for student expression within the constraints of Utah Code § 53G-10-203(2)(b).
Non-curricular club - means a student initiated group that may be authorized and allowed school facilities use during non-instructional time in secondary schools by a school and the Board of Education in accordance with law. A non-curricular club's meetings, ideas, and activities are not sponsored or endorsed in any way by the Board, the District, or district employees. A non-curricular club shall have a minimum of three members.
Non-instructional time - means time set aside by a school before instructional time begins or after instructional time ends, including discretionary time.
Religious club - means a non-curricular club designated in its application as either being religiously based or based on expression or conduct mandated by conscience.
School facilities use - means access to a school facility, premises, or playing field. School facilities use includes access to a limited open forum.

Limited Open Forum and Reservation of Right to Close Forum

Schools within the District may establish and maintain a limited open forum for student clubs pursuant to law, State Board of Education rules, and District Policy. Notwithstanding, the Board of Education retains the right to create a closed forum in the District or at any of its schools at any time by allowing curricular clubs only.

Delegation of Authority to Local Schools

The Board hereby authorizes local schools within the school District to review applications for club authorization. A local school principal shall review applications for authorization of clubs on a case-by-case basis. Before granting an authorization, the school shall find that the proposed club meets the requirements of a curricular club or a non-curricular club, and that the proposed club's purpose and activities comply with this Policy. A school shall grant authorization and school facilities use to curricular and non-curricular clubs whose applications are found to meet the requirements of this part, rules of the State Board of Education, and policies of the District and shall limit or deny authorization or school facilities use to proposed clubs that do not meet the requirements of this part, rules of the State Board of Education, and policies of the District.

Formation and Renewal of Student Club

Each student group seeking to establish a club under this Policy must submit an application to the building principal or a designee to form a club. In addition to filing an initial application to form the club, each club must submit to the principal or a designee an application to have the club remain active in the coming year before the last Friday in April, which will include the names of the club advisor and club officers for the coming year.

Curricular Club Application for Authorization

Faculty members or students proposing a curricular club shall submit a written application for authorization on a form approved by the District. However, clubs whose membership is determined by student body election or clubs that are governed by an association that regulates interscholastic activities are exempted from these application requirements.

An application for authorization of a curricular club shall include:

The recommended club name, which must be consistent with the club's purposes and school sponsorship.
A statement of the club's purpose, goals, and activities.
A statement of the club's categorization, which shall be included in the parental consent required under Utah Code § 53G-7-709, indicating all of the following that may apply:
1. Athletic
2. Business/economic
3. Agriculture
4. Art/music/performance
5. Science
6. Gaming
7. Religious
8. Community service/social justice
9. Other
The recommended meeting times, dates, and places.
A statement that the club will comply with the provisions of this part and all other applicable laws, rules, or policies.
A budget showing the amount and source of any funding provided or to be provided to the club and its proposed use.

If the school finds that the proposed club is a non-curricular club, the school may:

Return the application to the faculty member or students proposing the club for amendment.
Review the application as an application for authorization of a non-curricular club.

Noncurricular Club Application for Authorization

Students proposing a non-curricular club shall submit a written application for authorization on a form approved by the District.

An application for authorization of a non-curricular club shall include:

The recommended club name, which must reasonably reflect the club’s purpose, goals, and activities.
A statement of the club's purpose, goals, and activities.
A statement of the club's categorization, which shall be included in the parental consent required under Utah Code § 53G-7-709, indicating all of the following that may apply:
1. Athletic
2. Business/economic
3. Agriculture
4. Art/music/performance
5. Science
6. Gaming
7. Religious
8. Community service/social justice
9. Other
The recommended meeting times, dates, and places.
A statement that the club will comply with the provisions of this part and all other applicable laws, rules, or policies.
A budget showing the amount and source of any funding provided or to be provided to the club and its proposed use.

Name Approval

A school may grant access to the club but condition such access on the change of the club name to ensure that the club name:

Accurately reflects the actual nature, purpose, and activities of the club
Does not improperly imply school sponsorship or affiliation
Will not result in undue disruption of school operations, subject students to harassment or persecution, imply inappropriate association with any non-school organizations or groups, or imply that the club would operate in violation of laws or rules

Clubs – Limitations and Denials

A school shall limit or deny authorization or school facilities use to a club or require changes prior to granting authorization or school facilities use:

As the school determines it to be necessary to
1. Protect the physical, emotional, psychological, or moral well-being of students and faculty.
2. Maintain order and discipline on school premises.
3. Prevent a material and substantial interference with the orderly conduct of a school's educational activities.
4. Protect the rights of students and parents or guardians.
5. Maintain the boundaries of socially appropriate behavior.
6. Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and policies.
If a club’s proposed application and proposed activities indicate students or advisors in club related activities would as a substantial, material, or significant part of their conduct or means of expression:
1. Encourage criminal or delinquent conduct.
2. Promote bigotry
3. volve human sexuality
4. Involve any effort to engage in or conduct mental health therapy, counseling, or psychological services for which a license would be required under state law.

If a school or the District limits or denies authorization to a club, the school or the District shall provide, in writing, to the applicant the factual and legal basis for the limitation or denial.

Faculty Oversight of Authorized Clubs

A school shall approve the faculty sponsor, supervisor, or monitor for each authorized curricular, non-curricular, and religious club to provide oversight consistent with this Policy and the needs of the school to ensure that the methods of expression, religious practices, or other conduct of the students or advisors involved do not:
1. Unreasonably interfere with the ability of school officials to maintain order and discipline.
2. Unreasonably endanger or threaten the well-being of persons or property.
3. Violate concepts of civility or propriety appropriate to a school setting.
4. Violate applicable laws, rules, regulations, and policies.
Sponsors
1. A school shall annually approve faculty members as sponsors of curricular clubs.
2. Sponsors shall organize and direct the purpose and activities of a curricular club.
Supervisors and monitors.
1. A school shall approve faculty members to serve as supervisors and monitors for authorized non-curricular clubs.
2. A supervisor and monitor shall provide oversight to ensure compliance with the approved club purposes, goals, and activities and with the provisions of this part and other applicable laws, rules, and policies.
3. A monitor approved for a religious club may not participate in the activities of the religious club, except to perform the supervisory role required by this Policy.
4. The approval of a faculty supervisor or monitor does not constitute school sponsorship of the club.
Without the prior approval by the school, a person who is not a school faculty member or a club member may not:
1. Make a presentation to a non-curricular club; or
2. Direct, conduct, control, or regularly attend the meetings of a non-curricular club.

Use of School Facilities by Clubs

A school shall determine and assign school facilities use for curricular and non-curricular clubs consistent with the needs of the school.

The following rules apply to curricular clubs:
1. In assigning school facilities use, the administrator may give priority to curricular clubs over non-curricular clubs.
2. The school may provide financial or other support to curricular clubs.
The following rules apply to non-curricular clubs.
1. A preference or priority may not be given among non-curricular clubs.
2. A school shall only provide the space for non-curricular club meetings;
3. A school may not spend public funds for non-curricular clubs, except as required to implement the provisions of this part, including providing space and faculty oversight for non-curricular clubs.
4. A school shall establish the non-instructional times during which non-curricular clubs may meet.
5. A school may establish the places that non-curricular clubs may mee.
6. A school may set the number of hours non-curricular clubs may meet per month, provided that all non-curricular clubs shall be treated equally.
7. A school shall determine what access non-curricular clubs shall be given to the school newspaper, yearbook, bulletin boards, or public address system, provided that all non-curricular clubs shall be treated equally.

Club Membership

A school shall require written parental or guardian consent for student participation in all curricular and non-curricular clubs at the school.

Membership in curricular clubs is governed by the following rules:
1. Membership may be limited to students who are currently attending the sponsoring school or school district; and members who attend a school other than the sponsoring school shall have, in addition to the consent required under Utah Code § 53G-7-709, specific parental or guardian permission for membership in a curricular club at another school.
2. Curricular clubs may require that prospective members try out based on objective criteria outlined in the application materials; and try-outs may not require activities that violate the provisions of this Policy and other applicable laws, rules, and policies.
3. Other rules as determined by the State Board of Education, school district, or school.
Membership in non-curricular clubs is governed by the following rules:
1. Student membership in a non-curricular club is voluntary.
2. Membership shall be limited to students who are currently attending the school.
3. Non-curricular clubs may require that prospective members try out based on objective criteria outlined in the application materials; and try-outs may not require activities that violate the provisions of this Policy and other applicable laws, rules, and policies.
4. Other rules as determined by the State Board of Education, school district, or school.

Materials Presented at Noncurricular Club Meetings

A copy of any written or other media materials that were presented at a non-curricular club meeting by a nonschool person shall be delivered to a school administrator no later than 24 hours after the non-curricular club meeting and, if requested, a student's parent or legal guardian shall have an opportunity to review those materials.

Parental or Guardian Consent