Policy 3997-2

Facilities - Purpose

Staff and Student Memorials

Reviewed and affirmed by the Board: 
Last Revision: 
Original publish date: 11/10/2015
Related policies & regulations:  
Legal references:  

  

Should a person or persons seek to memorialize the death of a student who is currently or previously enrolled in grades PreK-12 at Lincoln Public Schools or of a staff member currently or previously employed by the Lincoln Public Schools, the following regulation shall be followed.

It is not the practice of Lincoln Public Schools to conduct memorial ceremonies in the school setting or at activities affiliated with the school district or to publish memorials in print or online versions of Lincoln Public Schools publications.

With the approval of the student’s building principal or the employee’s department leader and input from the district crisis team, memorials may only be established if there is no cost to the district with the consent of the deceased student’s parents or guardians or the deceased employee’s family and only through the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools.

Memorials through the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools include the following:

1. Monetary funds designated for scholarship(s).
2. Monetary funds designated for library books, digital media, supplies and equipment, with the approval of the school principal or department leader.  Items purchased through these funds will become part of the Lincoln Public Schools and their maintenance and potential removal will be governed by the District.
3. Monetary funds designated to a particular activity or department.  Providing these funds does not result in an agreement to “name” the activity or department in that person’s honor.
4. Monetary funds designated for plantings on school grounds, such as trees, shrubs, perennials and garden elements.  The type and placement of these requires the additional approval of the Facilities and Maintenance Department.  Items purchased through these funds will become part of the Lincoln Public Schools and their maintenance and potential removal will be governed by the District.

Any memorial display in existence at the time these regulations are initially adopted, whether in compliance with these guidelines or not, will be removed when four years have elapsed since the death of the individual and offered to the parents or guardians or family, if possible.

Parents or guardians or family members of deceased students and employees are encouraged to inform the school or department responsible for the location of the memorial display of any change of address so the memorial displays may be returned to them, if possible.