Policy 1310

Public Activities Involving Staff, Students or School Facilities

Political Activity

Reviewed and affirmed by the Board
Last Revision
Original publish date: 10/27/2009
Related policies & regulations:  4730
Legal references:  

  

The Lincoln Board of Education recognizes political activity in our democratic society as legitimate and necessary.  The Board will, at its discretion, take positions on political issues which are likely to affect educational process, but not on non-educational political issues.  The Board intends that its positions on proposed legislation be effectively communicated to the Nebraska Legislature and other governmental entities.  The Board may also direct the Superintendent to prepare legislation for introduction on its behalf.

 

In order to guard against placing students or staff members under undue pressure to adopt particular positions on political issues, the Board directs that employees avoid using their positions or their access to school materials or facilities for such purpose or for solicitation, promotion, recruiting or to otherwise work for the election or defeat of any candidate for public office or to influence the outcome of an election or a decision by a governing body on a political issue.  Specifically, employees are restricted from the use of the following for such purposes:

  1. Their position, whether as an instructor or as a leader or supervisor of other employees
  2. Classrooms, buildings or facilities
  3. Students
  4. School equipment, materials or mailing or other school communication systems.

These restrictions do not apply to employees who are engaged in authorized lobbying activities on behalf of the District.  The restrictions also do not apply to the distribution of employee-association correspondence or newsletters in the normal course of association business, even though those communication media may contain information concerning adopted positions of the association on political issues.