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COMMUNITY
RELATIONS 1300
POLICY
ON VISITORS
The Manchester
Board of Education welcomes the interest of the Manchester community
in the programs and activities within the Manchester Public School,
as well as the observation of classes by parents and other interested
members of the community. Furthermore, the Board encourages visitors
to observe schools in operation and to channel expressions of approval,
as well as constructive criticism to the staff and to the Board of Education.
The Board also recognizes its responsibility to ensure that students
must learn in an educational environment free of unnecessary disruption
and distractions and to provide a school environment that is safe for
staff and students alike.
In the
interest of protecting the welfare of students and staff, preserving
the privacy rights of students, minimizing disruptions to the learning
process, and maintaining order and security on its premises, the following
guidelines have been established:
1. Upon
arrival on school grounds, all visitors, including members of the Board
of Education, must register at the main school office and secure a visitor's
identification badge and receive added instruction from the school staff.
2. Staff members should be alert to the presence of unauthorized visitors
and report their presence to the principal promptly.
3. Non-school personnel may not initiate, direct, conduct, control,
or regularly attend the
meetings of student groups without prior approval from the principal.
4. School volunteers are required to register in the Volunteer Sign-in
book when they are
visiting or volunteering in the schools.
5. Anyone wishing to make an appointment to observe a class must contact
the administration of the school prior to the observation. At least
twenty-four (24) hours
notice is required. Exceptions will be made at the discretion of the
administration.
6. In addressing requests for classroom observation, the administration
will consider its
responsibility to avoid disruption to the learning environment.
7. Requests to observe a class shall be granted, unless such request(s)
would be
disruptive to the educational process.
8. Visitors
are expected to follow school rules.
9. Visitors
observing classes should not initiate conversations with students or
otherwise
interrupt normal activities. Any questions should be addressed after
the class, apart from the student body, to the teacher and/or administrator.
10. Audio
taping, videotaping, or photographing school activities by third parties
may
invade the privacy rights of students and staff, and will, therefore,
not generally be
allowed. Exceptions to this guideline may be made by the administration,
subject to
reasonable restrictions, as the administration may, in its sole discretion,
decide.
11. The Principal or her/his designee shall have complete authority
to exclude from the
school premises any persons who she/he has reason to believe are disrupting
the
educational programs in the classroom or in the school, are disturbing
teachers or
students on the premises, or whom the principal believes are on the
premises for the
purpose of committing an illegal act.
12. An unauthorized visitor shall be guilty of loitering on school grounds
when she/he loiters, or remains in or about a school building or grounds,
without a reason or relationship involving the custody of, or responsibility
for, a student, or for any other authorized activity, license, or privilege
to be there.
13. The administration is authorized to file a trespassing complaint
with the Manchester
Police Department, when applicable or appropriate.
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
53a-185 Loitering in or about school grounds:
Class C misdemeanor
7-148© 7(F)
Adopted:
August 30, 1993
Revised: October 27, 2003
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