953 Policy: Visitors to School District Buildings and Sites

Continue to Guideline 953.1: 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 and administration encourage interest on the part of parents and community members in school programs and student activities.  The school board and administration welcome visits to school buildings and school property by parents and community members 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 Richfield Public Schools.

B. The school board and administration reaffirm their 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. Procedures to support this policy will be developed as an administrative guideline for this policy.

III. POST-SECONDARY ENROLLMENT OPTIONS (PSEO) STUDENTS

A. A student enrolled in a post-secondary enrollment options (PSEO) course may remain at the school site during regular school hours in accordance with established procedures.

B. A student enrolled in a PSEO course may be provided with reasonable access, during regular school hours, to a computer and other technology resources that the student needs to complete coursework for a post-secondary enrollment course in accordance with established procedures.

IV. VISITOR LIMITATIONS

A. An individual, PSEO student, or group may be denied permission to visit a school or school property or such permission may be revoked if the visitor(s) does not comply with the District procedures and regulations or if the visit is not in the best interest of students, employees or the school district. Procedures to support this policy will be developed as an administrative guideline for this policy.

B. Visitors, including PSEO students, are authorized to park vehicles on school property at times and in locations specified in the approved visitor procedures and requirements which are an administrative guideline for this policy or as otherwise specifically authorized by school officials.  When unauthorized vehicles of visitors are parked on school property, school officials may:

1. move the vehicle or require the driver or other person in charge of the vehicle 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, PSEO student, 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. § 124D.09 (Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act)

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

Minn. Stat. § 609.605, Subd. 4 (Trespass)

RATIFIED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION: August 3, 1970

REVISED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION: November 21, 1994; May 21, 2001; November 6, 2006; October 16, 2017; May 1, 2023

REVIEWED AND REAFFIRMED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION: February 6, 2006; October 16, 2017