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903 Visitors to School District Buildings and Sites

903 Visitors to School District Buildings and Sites

 

I.          PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to inform the school community and the general public of the position of the School Board on visitors to school buildings and other school property.

 

II.        GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY

A. The School Board encourages interest on the part of parents and community members in school programs and student activities.  The School Board welcomes visits to school buildings and school property by parents, community members and other educational agencies provided the visits are consistent with the health, education and safety of students and employees and are conducted within the procedures and requirements established by the school district.

B. The School Board reaffirms its position on the importance of maintaining a school environment that is safe for students and employees and free of activity that may be disruptive to the student learning process or employee working environment.

 

III.       RESPONSIBILITY

 

A. Visitor procedures will be posted in all district facilities.  “Visitor” refers to any person entering a school building who is not a student enrolled in that building or that buildings’ employee or a central administration employee.

B. A student enrolled in a post-secondary enrollment options course may remain at their home school site during regular school hours and be provided reasonable access to a computer and technology resources needed to complete coursework.

C. All persons entering a school building, other than for attendance at a school scheduled activity open to the general public, must report directly to the main office to obtain a visitor’s pass.

D. When visiting a school district building for any reason, individuals are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that is fully consistent with the mission, policies and rules of the district, school and classroom, and in a manner
that is not disruptive to the learning environment or to individuals.  The building principal, teacher or employee has the authority to demand that visitors vacate the school property if they are acting in a disruptive or belligerent manner.  Examples of disruptive behavior include, but are not limited to, arguing with the teacher or students, verbal or non-verbal participation in the class without teacher permission, or actions or words that take student attention away from the teacher and the lesson.  The principal or designee may involve district or law enforcement authorities if necessary.  Visitors who have demonstrated inappropriate behavior on previous occasions may be denied visiting privileges.

IV.       VISITOR LIMITATIONS

 

A. An individual or group may be denied permission to visit a school or school property if the visitor(s) does not comply with the school district procedures and regulations or if the visit is not in the best interest of students, employees or the school district (the visitation of the individual or group disrupts or distracts from the primary mission of the school district to provide a focused and effective learning environment for all students).

B. Visitors are authorized to park vehicles on school property at times and in locations specified.  When unauthorized vehicles of visitors are parked on school property, school officials may:

  1. move the vehicle or require the driver to move it off school district property; or
  2. if unattended, provide for the removal of the vehicle, at the expense of the owner or operator, to the nearest convenient garage or other place of safety off of school property.

C. An individual or group who enters school property without complying with the procedures and requirements may be guilty of criminal trespass and thus subject to criminal penalty.  Such persons may be detained by the school principal or a person designated by the school principal in a reasonable manner for a reasonable period of time pending the arrival of a police officer.

 

Legal References:     

Minn. Stat. § 123B.02 (General Powers of Independent School Districts)

Minn. Stat. § 128C.08 (Assaulting a Sports Official Prohibited)

Minn. Stat. § 609.605, Subd. 4 (Trespasses on School Property)

 

Cross References:     

833 Policy 903 Procedures

833 Policy 903 Procedures – Classroom Observation Confidentiality Acknowledgement

 

POLICY ADOPTED:  June 21, 2007

POLICY REVIEWED:  March, 2012; February, 2014, June 16, 2022

POLICY REVISED:  April 26, 2012; February 20, 2014, August 20, 2015, August 26, 2021, September 18, 2025

 

Policy