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&UIDELINFS FOR YOUR DPcT°l KCjT S IZEFEIENDORA COMMUNICATIONS STUDENTS THE NEWSPAPER Do not send promotional materials home with students.There is no statutory Board members and staff can write letters to the editor advocating passage or defeat prohibition against sending informational materials home with students.However, of the referendum.Letters should he written during personal time using personal district officials should carefully weigh the perception of this practice. resources. Students can wear vote-yes buttons,t-shirts,etc.to school if such items do not District leaders can challenge or correct `� interfere with the normal operations of the school.If this is allowed,however. ,A inaccurate information presented in the V`f t'IATE V ER students must also be allowed to wear vote-no buttons and t-shirts. media, A ACCESS Do not allow staff to advocate for a referendum's passage or defeat to students.If Paid advertisements can be placed in the IS PROVIDED T p teachers want to discuss the referendum in a relevant class(civics,government, media as long as district funds are not used. t thy, etc.),these discussions must be neutral. SC,amL NEWSLETTERS VOTE-YE.TE yEs Former students—those attending college,for example—can vote on the School newsletters can be used to provide V R O U PS referendum via absentee ballots as long as they are not registered in their factual information about the referendum. L new locations. They cannot he used to advocate passage AAUST ALSO tl E or defeat. PROVIDED TO UNIONS Emaiill sent from the district office should �� • +t `O Employee unions are independent entities.These organizations may campaign for or contain only factual information about the !.I?,l/UP‘;, against any ballot issue presented by the district. referendum.District email messages cannot 1 advocate passage or defeat.Board members Staff cannot engage in campaign activities during work hours,and they cannot use and staff can send promotional emails from district resources to advocate the passage or defeat of a ballot question. their personal computers on their own time. PRESENTATIONS . • PERSONAL EXPRESSION Board members and staff cart give _ informational presentations to parent 1 Board members and staff can serve on 7 } ,t and community groups.If t}re _ vole-yes or vote-no cunndttees during !°t l r l .E IS ,k presentations are promotional,then their personal time Ls DIFFERENCE C 1 staff members must use their own .;',, SIG DI T ERENCE time and resources,and board - l= Board members and staff can put vote-yes 4!pp-t' members must not collect per -/""L t or vote nn stickers on the,vehicles[hey �f E E N f ri 1 diems or reimbursement for t- .t drive to school.This is an exercise of free F/h�t p t� expenses. . speech. SCf"NOOL�L.EADEr4 i Goa PUBLIC ACCESS y Staff canmol advocate for a referendum's• � F'f DO Board members and staff can use >1 passage or defeat while they are being t� f,pA 1 public access to promote y,.'- paid by the school.Whether staff can AND �'l ft iyT ��fa E Y referenda,just as any private wear vote-yes or vote-no buttons while ' T43 U L) DO citizen ran.They must do working is an unsettled issue.MSBA it on their own lime,and believes the district has the authority DO. ity to THE KEY i j TO they may not use prohibit such buttons in school. district equipment. Although staff may claim the right to KNOW YOUR They cannot be free speech,the district has an reimbursed by the obligation to control behavior that (O PT\inn U N I T Y. district for any would cause disruption in the related expenses. school. STAFF - Board members and staff can display referendum-related lawn signs in MAILBOXES their yards.Check local ordinances for regulations regarding lawn signs. District mailboxes provide for internal Board members and staff can donate their own money to support or communication oppose any district ballot question. between employers and employees.They Board members and staff can participate in promotional can be used to provide phone-calling campaigns on their own time using their own factual information,but resources.They cannot use district phones. they should not be used to distribute promotional -. - Staff and board members can serve as materials.School districts election judges with the exception of should have policies that board members who are running for identify appropriate — election.However,voters may not perceive use of school staff and board members as impartial judges. mailboxes. DISTRICT BUILDINGS If your school building is being used as a voting site,remember that materials advocating defeat or passage of a ballot question cannot be worn or distributed within 100 feet of the polling site. People serving on vote-yes or vote-no committees may ask to use district meeting space.Your district should have a policy regarding use of district buildings by non- school groups.Follow the policy and treat all groups equitably. Do not use district telephones,copiers,computers or other equipment for promotional work. D o not disply pmmntional materials ore district property. 3 The district can restrict the distribution of campaign . = f literature at school events.The district should have a s policy regarding this practice,and everyone should be consi st treated cons 4 ELECTiON DAY ACTIVITIES This was developed by Vote-yes and vote-no committee members can distribute MSBA SBA I in August 2005. stickers with political messages on Election Day They must be Check With your iocal attorney handed out at least 100 feet or more from a polling site. for changes in the law and recent court cases. - Election Day advertising is allowed.That means vote-yes and vote-no groups can continue promotional work through the election. 0