Policy 2.06

School Visitation

1. Purpose -- The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for visitors or any person who is not an employee of the School District that enters a school campus.

2. Applicability and Scope

   1. This policy applies to all visitors or any person who is not an employee of the School District.

   2. This policy does not apply to routine deliveries or scheduled maintenance visits.

3. Policy -- The Palm Beach County School Board welcomes visits by parents and guardians in schools, especially if prearranged and for the purpose of conferences with teachers. Any visitor, which for the purpose of this policy shall mean, parents, volunteers, business partners, community members, public officials, representatives of the news media, salespersons or any other non-School District employee, shall report to the principal's office to explain the purpose of and get permission for the visit, sign-in and to receive a visitor's pass/badge. All visitors shall be welcomed, treated with dignity and respect and be allowed to express their concerns and/or questions to the appropriate person.

   1. All visitors entering a school campus must report to the school's office to sign-in and explain the purpose of, and get permission for, the visit. All visitors will be issued a visitor's pass.

   2. Any request for visitation shall be made to the principal of the school andbe arranged prior to the visit. Any visitation upon which the principal has a question shall be referred to the superintendent's office, appropriate Area Superintendent, or to the Chief Public Information Officer.

   3. Visits by a non-enrolled student unaccompanied by his/her parent(s) are prohibited unless prior approval has been granted by the principal.

   4. Parents/guardians are invited to visit the schools. To avoid interrupting the school's daily schedule, the parents should request a conference as noted in the Student and Family Handbook.

   5. There shall be no interference in or disruption to the operation of the school or undue interruption or disruption in classroom procedure.

      1. Any visitor who is disruptive, threatening or abusive shall be asked to relocate to a location in the school where no students are present and where school personnel can discuss and resolve the matter in a professional manner.

      2. Loitering in and around school premises is prohibited.

      3. Any visitor who enters or remains on District property without legitimate purpose may be found to be trespassing and, therefore, in violation of Florida Statutes and subject to arrest and penalties as defined by statutes.

      4. Except as may be approved in advance by the principal and the teacher, parental observation in the classroom is not permitted in order to protect the privacy of the other students and to avoid the disruption of the instructional process.

   6. Visitation by persons with legal authority, such as School Police, law enforcement or Department of Children and Families personnel, are the only persons allowed to interrogate and/or question a student on School Board property without the consent of the student's parent(s) or guardian(s).

   7. Visitors that are agents, solicitors or salespersons may only come on school premises if the visits are for demonstrating materials or services used in an educational setting.

      1. The principal, after determining the purpose of the visit, shall have the sole discretion to permit visits by agents, solicitors and salespersons.

      2. Agents, solicitors and salespersons shall sign in at the school's main office upon arrival.

      3. The principal shall prohibit all other forms of canvassing or soliciting of teachers or students on school premises during school hours.

   8. Visits from elected officials, candidates for national office, representatives of the United States executive branch, Florida government officials, elected officials representing local constituencies and/or spouses of all of the aforementioned must be cleared by the Superintendent via the Department of Public Affairs.

      1. Once cleared by the Superintendent, the Principal and/or Department of Public Affairs will contact the appropriate Area Superintendent's office to coordinate the visit.

      2. Political activities and/or campaigning by candidates are prohibited on school campuses or in School District facilities. This includes the distribution of campaign materials, displayed posters, or other paraphernalia, including the presence of a candidate on campus for campaign purposes. The only exception is when a recognized group rents a facility after school hours or, when on Election Day, the School District follows the county election law regarding voting polls located at many Palm Beach County schools.