5210

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

The Board of Education believes that many of the goals of instruction are fostered and enhanced through active participation in student organizations.

The Board is philosophically opposed to the establishment of dues as a requirement for continued membership in a student organization. The Board is also opposed to secret societies in the schools, or other organizations whose new memberships are selected or determined by a vote of current members.

Each student organization shall have a faculty advisor or adult volunteer appointed by the Building Principal and shall operate within a constitution or rules adopted by the members and approved by the faculty advisor or adult volunteer and the Building Principal.

PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL SPONSORED CLUBS

Procedure

Routinely, the Building Principals will submit to the Superintendent of Schools a written list of clubs and advisors each August for approval by the Board of Education. Each club will complete an Annual Club Registration Form to the satisfaction of the Principal.

The Principal will make a written recommendation to the Superintendent noting his approval or disapproval of clubs.

In the event that a club is proposed at another time during the school year, the same procedure will be followed. No club will be authorized to operate in the district school without first having received board approval.

GUIDELINES THAT ADVISORS MUST FOLLOW:

Registration

Each year, club advisors and the officers are required to complete an Annual Club Registration Form and submit it to their Building Principal. The registration includes the club's objectives, requirements for membership, selection of officers, club activities and purpose for fund raising (Board Policies JHB & JHC).

Role of the Advisor

Advisors should help students meet their individual and student group goals by using the following strategies:

1. Require student leaders to formulate and file with the Building Principal, the goals and objectives of each group activity.

2. Train student leaders and member in group process techniques that encourage group members to become involved in decision making.

3. Help student leaders develop and adhere to program budgets.

4. Assist student leaders whose group's programs fall short of their purpose by working with them on improvements.

Advisor Requirements

Each student organization shall have a faculty advisor or adult volunteer appointed by the Building Principal (Board Policy JHC).

Advisors of clubs will be unpaid unless otherwise specified in the PCSTA Teachers' Agreement. Advisors paid under the Teacher Agreement are subject to a written evaluation each year by a Building Administrator. Advisor assignments not filled on a voluntary basis by a unit member will be filled by the district by other persons willing to accept the assignment.

Any club competing against Section III sanctioned interscholastic teams, must have a club advisor that is certified under NYSPHSAA guidelines.

Transportation

Club members participating in organized club activities at an away location are required to use district transportation or contract transportation to be funded by club treasury and travel with club advisor supervision.

Adoption date: January 1, 1993

Reviewed on:    November 4, 2003