Trustees
Change District Policy to Ensure School Clubs Equal
Access
April 25, 2006
The Plano ISD Board of Trustees voted on Monday, April
24, 2006, to change district policies addressing student
clubs. This action is a result of a lawsuit filed by Liberty Legal
Institute related
to
the distinction
between curricular and non-curricular student clubs.
The policy
changes ensure that there is no distinction between curricular
and non-curricular student clubs in terms of
equal access to meeting space during non-instructional time,
announcements, bulletin boards, school Web pages, fundraising,
student activity
accounts and yearbook publication.
"Plano
ISD received direction from the court in navigating four specific
doctrines related to the United States Constitution
and other educational laws," noted Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Doug Otto. "These concern equal protection, free speech, separation
of church and state and equal access."
"Plano ISD has sincerely and energetically sought open
and honest dialogue with Liberty Legal Institute representatives
to seek resolution outside of the court system and has made meaningful
change toward that effort," continued Dr. Otto, contending that
a lawsuit is an unnecessary course of action to settle district
policy
inquiries or to advocate for
change.
"An opportunity to dialogue with those who dispute district
policy, prior to filing a lawsuit, could have affected the same
policy revision," he
said.
Plano ISD requests that Liberty Legal Institute extend
the same courtesy as PISD has afforded to its students. Dr. Otto
said that the school district asks the Institute to embrace open
dialogue
vs. the premature filing of
lawsuits.
Dr. Otto said that, “There seems to be an intentional
attack by Liberty Legal Institute on Plano ISD’s school principals,
teachers and other staff members who are responsible for the education
of
students and who tirelessly serve children. Attention of teachers,
principals and administrators has been unnecessarily disrupted
by these proceedings.
"Plano ISD’s resources are better served
toward its mission of ensuring that all students receive an excellent
education, not toward lawsuits."
Policies FNAB (Local) STUDENT EXPRESSION: Use of School Facilities
for Non-School Purposes, and CFD (Local) ACCOUNTING: Activity Funds
Management are currently being processed by the Texas Association
of School Boards for official posting online, but are in effect
as a result of the board's April 24 approval.
|
