By Nate Slee and Luthea Sweeney, broadcast editor and photo and design editor

Policy 913 discusses nonschool individual(s), groups, and organizations that seek to include in-school individuals in activities, scholarships, and award opportunities. 

The definitions of Policy 913 are stated as such:

“Nonschool organizations, groups or individuals – those entities that are not part of the school program, school-sponsored activities, or organized pursuant to the Pennsylvania School Code or Board policy. When employees, students or Board members act on behalf of a nonschool organization or group, or on their own behalf, this policy applies to them. Students are governed by a separate and distinct Board policy regarding student expression and distribution and posting of materials.[1] 

Nonschool materials – any printed or written materials prepared by nonschool organizations, groups or individuals for posting or general distribution which are not prepared as a part of the curricular or approved extracurricular programs of the district. This includes such things as fliers, invitations, announcements, pamphlets, posters, Internet bulletin boards, nonschool organization websites and the like. 

Distribution – handing nonschool written materials to others on school property or during school-sponsored events; placing upon desks, tables, on or in lockers; or engaging in any other manner of delivery of nonschool written materials to others while on school property or during school functions. When email, text messaging or other technological delivery is used as a means of distributing or accessing nonschool written materials via use of school equipment or while on school property or at school functions, it shall be governed by this policy. 

Posting – publicly displaying nonschool written materials on school property or at school-sponsored events, including but not limited to affixing such materials to walls, doors, bulletin boards, easels, the outside of lockers, on district-sponsored websites, through other district-owned technology and the like.”

Under the “Prohibited  activities and materials” section, the Board inserted “by nonschool organizations” into the title.  The board inserted an additional rule under this section prohibiting nonschool organizations from inciting, “… students to unlawfully leave their classrooms for demonstration purposes.” 

Under the “Guidelines” section of this policy, the Board updated the document to state that activities sponsored by nonschool organizations can only take place during instructional time if said activities are “…invited by administration to supplement the district approved curricula.” The document previously stated these activities were warranted by the school in the event the activities are “of educational value to the school program, they benefit district students or the school community, and they are factually accurate.” 

The final revision made to this policy is located under the “Use of School Facilities and Equipment” section: “Nonschool organizations, groups or individuals are Use of Facilities classification II, III, IV, or V,.” The updated version includes “in accordance with policy 707.” 

Policy 913 was originally adopted on June 9, 2010.