The Board of Trustees desires to promote positive relationships between the school and the community in order to enhance community support and involvement in the district school. The Superintendent/Principal or designee may approve:
1. Distribution of noncommercial materials that publicize services, special events, public meetings or other items of interest to students or parents/guardians
(cf. 1400 - Relations Between Other Governmental Agencies and the Schools)
(cf. 5145.2 - Freedom of Speech/Expression)
(cf. 6145.5 - Student Organizations and Equal Access)
(cf. 6162.8 - Research)
2. Distribution of promotional materials of a commercial nature to students or parents/guardians
(cf. 1700 - Relations Between Private Industry and the Schools)
3. Paid advertisements on school property, including but not limited to billboard advertisements
4. Paid advertisements in school-sponsored publications, yearbooks, announcements and other school communications
(cf. 1113 - District and School Web Sites)
5. Products and materials donated by commercial enterprises for use in the classroom, as long as they serve an educational purpose and do not unduly promote any commercial activity or products. Such materials may bear the name and/or logo of the donor.
(cf. 3290 - Gifts, Grants and Bequests)
(cf. 6161.11 - Supplementary Instructional Materials)
Prior to distribution or publication, the Superintendent/Principal or designee shall review and approve all advertising copy and promotional materials to ensure compliance with Board policy.
The Superintendent/Principal or designee may selectively approve or disapprove distribution of materials or publishing of copy based on the criteria listed below, but may not disapprove materials or copy in an arbitrary or capricious manner or in a way that discriminates against a particular viewpoint on a subject that would otherwise be allowed.
All materials to be distributed shall bear the name and contact information of the sponsoring entity.
The use of promotional materials or advertisements does not imply district endorsement of any identified products or services. The Superintendent/Principal encouraged to include a disclaimer in school publications and yearbooks stating that the school does not endorse any advertised products or services.
Criteria for Approval
The Superintendent/Principal or designee shall not accept for distribution any materials or advertisements that:
1. Are obscene, libelous or slanderous (Education Code 48907)
2. Incite students to commit unlawful acts, violate school rules or disrupt the orderly operation of the school (Education Code 48907)
3. Promote any particular political interest, candidate, party or ballot measure, unless such materials are being distributed at a forum in which candidates or advocates from all sides are presenting their views to the students during school hours or during events scheduled pursuant to the Civic Center Act
(cf. 1160 - Political Processes)
(cf. 1330 - Use of School Facilities)
(cf. 4119.25/4219.25/4319.25 - Political Activities of Employees)
4. Discriminate against, attack or denigrate any group on account of any unlawful consideration
(cf. 0410 - Nondiscrimination in District Programs and Activities)
5. The District shall not approve a sponsorship that promotes the use or sale of materials or services that are illegal or inconsistent with school objectives, including but not limited to materials or advertisements for tobacco, intoxicants, and movies or products unsuitable for children
6. The District welcomes sponsorships from the community, however business logos shall not indicate terms such as "Winery" or "Brewery" but may indicate the business logo and say for example "Los Olivos Family Farm" or "Los Olivos Vineyard". The Superintendent/Principal or designee may, consistent with the criteria established in this policy approve or disapprove sponsorships.
7. Solicit funds or services for an organization, with the exception of solicitations authorized in Board policy
(cf. 1321 - Solicitation of Funds from and by Students)
8. Distribute unsolicited merchandise for which an ensuing payment is requested
The Superintendent/Principal or designee also may consider the educational value of the materials or advertisements, the age or maturity of students in the intended audience, and whether the materials or advertisements support the basic educational mission of the district, directly benefit the students or are of intrinsic value to the students or their parents/guardians.
(cf. 0000 - Vision)
The school may establish additional criteria pertaining to the content of advertisements in school publications and yearbooks. Such criteria may limit advertisements to those that contain congratulatory or commemorative messages, curriculum-related content, advertisements for products or services of interest to students, noncontroversial content, and/or other content deemed appropriate by the school publication staff and adviser in accordance with law and Board policy.
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
7050-7058 Political activities of school officers and employees
35160 Authority of governing boards
35160.1 Broad authority of school districts
35172 Promotional activities
38130-38138 Civic Center Act
48907 Student exercise of free expression
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE
25664 Advertisements encouraging minors to drink
U.S. CONSTITUTION
Amendment 1, Freedom of speech and expression
COURT CASES
DiLoreto v. Downey Unified School District, (1999) 196 F.3d 958
Yeo v. Town of Lexington, (1997) U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 96-1623
Hemry v. School Board of Colorado Springs, (D.Col. 1991) 760 F.Supp. 856
Bright v. Los Angeles Unified School District, (1976) 134 Cal. Rptr. 639, 556 P.2d 1090, 18 Cal. 3d 350
Lehman v. Shaker Heights, (1974) 418 U.S. 298
Policy LOS OLIVOS SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: November 8, 2004 Los Olivos, California
revised: February 10, 2020