Policy 2.59

Political Activities on School Board Property

1. The School District of Palm Beach County is committed to ensuring each citizen's rights as provided in the Constitution and laws of the State of Florida and the Constitution of the United States. However, School Board employees shall be prohibited from the following:

1. Participating in any political activity while on duty.

2. Attempting, either directly or indirectly, to coerce political activity or support from any other School Board employee.

3. Soliciting or attempting to solicit funds from a School Board employee on behalf of any candidate, party, or issue while on duty.

2. School Board employees shall have the right to actively participate in political activities on behalf of any candidate, party, or issue during the time they are not scheduled to be on duty.

3. Nothing contained in this Policy shall be interpreted to prohibit a School Board member or employee from performing any statutory or assigned duty with respect to any issue which directly affects the District school system or which is placed on a ballot by or at the request of the School Board, provided that such assigned duty is consistent with a willing employee's personal political beliefs.

4. School Board employees who offer themselves as candidates for public office shall notify the Superintendent immediately upon qualifying for election. They shall file a written statement explaining plans for conducting their campaign so as not to interfere with their job responsibilities.

1. Personal leave may be taken for thirty (30) days prior to the election as provided herein.

2. Such candidate shall adhere strictly to Fla. Stat. § 104.31, regarding political activity on the part of public officials and employees, including teachers.

3. A successful candidate for an office requiring a part-time responsibility shall report immediately to the Superintendent after the election and thereafter when deemed necessary by the Superintendent or School Board to evaluate the compatibility of the dual responsibility.

4. A School Board employee may be granted leave of absence, with loss of full pay, for a specified period of time for the purpose of campaigning or for serving in public office.

5. Political Candidates




1. Debate or Forum.-- If a class or school-sponsored group plans a political debate or forum during the school day, the principal/teacher/sponsor shall ensure that all candidates for the same public office or who have differing opinions on a political issue, are given equal opportunity to participate.

2. Appearances.-- Political candidates are not allowed to appear at a school unless they are invited to visit or speak to a class or other school-related activity during school hours. The requirements for debates or forums are applicable and other candidates for the public office should be invited to visit at the same time or be provided an equivalent opportunity.

1. Every partisan organization or political committee requesting to participate is required to have filed the names and addresses of its appointed officers, its contributions and expenditures with the Board of Election Supervisors, in accordance with state fair election practices and Florida Statutes Chapter and 106 and other applicable laws.

2. Nothing in this policy shall preclude or prevent incumbent elected public officials from appearances on School Board property upon the invitation of a School Board Member, the Superintendent, the Superintendent's designee or principal provided that it is within their official capacity and not a campaign activity.

6. School groups may not participate in events that fall into these classifications:

1. Public appearances to promote the political candidacy of any person or the furtherance of any partisan political interest.

2. Appearances that create an undue amount of interference with the regular school program or that cause an excessive amount of students' absences for rehearsal or preparation.

3. The school principal shall refer any case where a possible conflict may exist to the Superintendent for approval or disapproval.

7. Use or Distribution of Political Materials During School Hours or on School Grounds

1. Interschool (Pony) Mail.-- Any interschool or intraschool mail system may not be used to distribute any political materials to schools. A regular newsletter of an employee organization that is normally distributed by the pony mail system will not be considered political material if it simply contains news of a political nature taken by the organization. However, a publication from, or newsletter primarily containing news or discussion about, any political action committee is considered political material and may not be distributed through the pony mail.

2. Political Materials.-- Any distribution of political materials, except as part of the instructional program or student government, or political activity during working hours (including e-mail messages) is prohibited, except as allowed under this Policy or Policy 2.591.

3. Students may post or distribute student-government election materials in an appropriate time, place, and manner, as determined by the principal, so as to avoid any disruption to the learning environment.

4. As Part of an Instructional Program.-- Teachers may use political materials as part of the instructional program, provided the material is germane to the instructional objectives of the course. Any presentation of political materials, or issues, or expression of views, however, must be balanced and fair.

1. Teachers shall be responsible for providing students with the opportunity to investigate various sides of the topics presented in their courses, particularly in relation to controversial subjects, within such limits as may be imposed by relevance to the course, the maturity level and intellectual ability of the students, and the time available.

2. Teachers shall permit freedom of expression on those topics that are matters of opinion so that students may weigh alternative views and make up their own minds. Students shall be encouraged to examine, analyze, evaluate, and synthesize the information available to them before drawing conclusions in order to develop as fully as possible their capacities for rational judgment.

3. Teachers shall strive to promote tolerance for the opinions of others and respect for the right of all individuals to hold and express differing opinions.

4. A teacher may express his/her opinions in regard to political, social and religious values or issues provided that the total presentation is essentially balanced and fair. He/she shall not use professional interaction with students to further his/her own political aims or views or those of any other individual or group.