The Board of Education encourages parents and other citizens to visit the McFarland Schools and believes that there are many potential benefits which can result from increased interaction with the public. At the same time, the Board has a legitimate interest in avoiding disruption to the educational process, protecting the safety and welfare of the students and staff, and to protect the district's facilities and equipment from misuse or vandalism. A balance must be achieved between the potential benefits and risks associated with the presence of visitors in our school buildings. Achieving the desired balance will lead to increased parent involvement, a better understanding of how the school district operates and the challenges facing the school district, and an increased sense of collaboration and cooperation between the community and the schools. Limitations may be placed on visitors to avoid disruption to school operations and to prevent visitors from receiving a distorted view of those operations. Building principals shall have the authority to determine which visits are to be permitted as well as the discretion to set any appropriate conditions on the nature and extent of such visits. In exercising their discretion, the principals shall consider the purpose of the visit, the impact of the visitors presence and the relationship of any visitor to the students. Appropriate administrative rules shall be developed to provide guidance for school personnel so that worthwhile experiences may be provided for those persons who enter onto school premises as visitors. School personnel shall seek to assure that parents and other visitors are courteously received and that sincere efforts are made to provide them with information as may be needed to foster a cooperative relationship between home, school and community.
District's School Visitors Policy
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