The Board of Education encourages parents and citizens of the school district to visit our schools in accordance with reasonable procedures to control such visits as established by the administration.  The intent of those procedures shall be to make the programs of the district open to the public, while at the same time minimizing the disturbance and disruption of the educational process.

Whereas the School District of Amery is charged with the responsibility of providing a safe environment for all students, and whereas the School District of Amery is also charged with providing a learning environment that ensures the confidentiality of all students, the following procedures shall apply:

1. Persons who are in the building at the specific invitation of the district and are working with a district employee.
2. Parents or citizens who have been invited to visit the school as part of a scheduled open house or special day.
3. Individuals who are attending a scheduled performance by a school class, team, or group.

The building principal shall have the authority to exclude from the building premises any person or persons he or she has reason to believe would be, or is, disrupting the educational program of the school.  Engaging in any action which interferes with the learning process shall result in the revocation of the visitor’s pass.

School personnel encountering any non-employee not wearing a visitor badge shall ask them to report to the office for registration.  If a person refuses, the employee shall notify the building principal, or his or her designee, who may then call the police for assistance.

All interviews with staff members by media personnel which occur within the scope of the staff members employment with the district shall be with the knowledge and consent of the staff member.  There shall be no video or audio taping of such interviews with the full knowledge and consent of the affected staff members.  This shall not preclude the filming or taping of open session board meetings or board appointed committee meetings pursuant to Section 19.90, Wisconsin statutes.  Violations of this provision shall be reported to the District Administrator.

A non-employee may not interview, film, or photograph a student without the prior approval of the     building principal or his/her designee at any time when such student is under the school’s supervision.  When interviews are authorized, such interviews shall be with the full knowledge and consent of the student. Further, there shall be no video or audio taping of such interviews without the full knowledge and consent of the student, his or her parents or guardians, and the building principal or his or her designee.

This provision shall not apply to interviews of students participating in co-curricular activities.

Violators will be reported to the District Administrator.

No person shall possess, use, or store a weapon on school property, on school buses, or at any school related event.  This prohibition does not apply to law enforcement officers discharging their official duties or military personnel who are armed in the line of duty.

A weapon is any object that by its design and/or use can cause bodily injury or property damage.  This includes (but is not limited to) guns, knives, razors, karate sticks, nunchaku, metal knuckles, chains, and similar items.

Any student violating this policy shall be subject to penalties outlined in state law and suspended and/or expelled from school.  Parents/guardians and law enforcement officials will be notified in all cases.  Weapons will be confiscated by the school district.

Employees violating this policy shall be disciplined in accordance with employee policies and agreements and referred to law enforcement officials for prosecution.

Any other person violating this policy shall be referred to law enforcement officials for prosecution.

Law enforcement officers will be summoned to the schools in a situation involving a weapon which presents an immediate threat to safety.  If the situation does not allow an opportunity to contact law enforcement officials immediately, school staff and administration shall attempt to diffuse and control the situation until law enforcement officials can be summoned.

The building principal may allow weapons in the building for purposes of demonstration or educational presentations.  This approval must be in writing and granted prior to the weapon being brought to the school.  The weapon shall be maintained in the possession of the principal except during the actual demonstration or presentation.

The School District of Amery shall not discriminate against students based on sex, race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, handicap or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability.

Federal law prohibits discrimination in employment based on age, race, color, national origin, sex, or handicap.

The Wisconsin Fair Employment Law also prohibits discrimination in employment based on creed, marital status, ancestry, arrest or conviction record, or sexual orientation.

All Wisconsin schools are tobacco free.  Under Board policy, the use of tobacco products shall be always prohibited on school premises.  “School Premises” includes all property owned, rented by, or under control of the Amery School District.