E32. Visits by Parents, Community Members or Media (Interviewing, Filming, Videotaping or Recording)

Policy Code: E32

First Reading:   March 8, 2018
Second Reading:   March 20, 2018
Adopted:   March 20, 2018

Policy

It is the policy of the board to balance the need of the public and media to be informed about school programs and activities with the privacy interests of students and the responsibility of the school to keep members of the school community safe and operate with a minimum of disruption. 

This policy is applicable to all school buildings and property. During school day operations and while children and staff are present, all visitors must report to the school office immediately upon entering the building, check in with the school official in the office, sign the visitors’ register, and obtain a visitors’ pass during school hours and while students or staff are present. All visitors must receive authorization from the Principal or his/her designee to visit elsewhere in the building. The Principal or his or her designee will keep a log showing the names of visitors and the date, time and purpose of each visit. In order to protect the students, staff, and facilities, no unauthorized persons shall be permitted to enter upon the school premises during the school day or while student or staff are present. The Superintendent shall make such regulations as are necessary to protect both students and property from unauthorized visitors. When the situation warrants, law enforcement officers shall be called to enforce this policy. 

Implementation

The principal or his or her designee may regulate visits to the school by parents, community members or news media subject to the following guidelines: 

1. Parental visits. In the absence of a court order denying unsupervised visitation rights to a parent, both custodial and non-custodial parents may schedule visits to their children's classes. Arrangements for classroom visits shall be made by contacting the principal. The principal will consult with the teacher involved, and may grant the request or suggest a more convenient time for a visit. Requests by parents to visit classes may be denied by the principal when the visit would result in disruption to the learning process in the classroom. 
   
   
2. Visits by community members. Persons who are not parents of school children may obtain permission to visit the school while it is in session from the principal or his or her designee. Requests to visit specific classrooms will be granted or denied after consultation with the teacher or teachers involved, and will be based on a consideration of the informational needs of the person making the request and the potential for disruption or invasion of the privacy of students. The decision of the Principal shall be final. Requests for visits to the school shall be made well in advance of the visit and with prior notification to the Principal so that proper consideration and plans can be made. 
   
   
3. Visits by Non EWSD students On a limited basis, non-registered students may obtain permission to visit the school while it is in session from the Principal or his or her designee.
   
   Generally, non-students and students enrolled in other districts are not permitted on school grounds during the school day. Requests by students or staff to bring siblings or other non student visitors to a school must be submitted to and approved by the principal.  
   
   Requests to visit specific classrooms will be granted or denied after consultation with the teacher or teachers involved, and will be based on a consideration of the purpose or informational needs of the person making the request and the potential for disruption or invasion of the privacy of students. The decision of the Principal shall be final. Requests for visits to the school shall be made well in advance of the visit and with prior notification to the Principal so that proper consideration and plans can be made. 
   
   
4. Visits by news media. Visits to the school by representatives of the news media or other persons seeking to interview, photograph, record, videotape or film students, staff members or school activities must be arranged after consultation with the principal or his or her designee.
   
   Affected teachers will be consulted before permission for such activities in classrooms is granted. At the discretion of the administration, parents may be asked to sign general or specific permission slips to authorize interviewing, photographing, filming or videotaping of their children while at school or while participating in school activities.
   
   Written parental permission will be obtained before the release, photography or recording of any student record. Photographing, filming or recording students will be allowed only after specific parental permission is obtained in writing. The decision of the Principal shall be final. Requests for visits to the school shall be made well in advance of the visit and with prior notification to the Principal so that proper consideration and plans can be made.

All visitors to the school will be required to check in at the office when they enter the school building. The principal or his or her designee will keep a log showing the names of visitors and the date, time and purpose of each visit.