I.          Extracurricular School-Sponsored Clubs and Activities

Extracurricular school-sponsored clubs and activities are an extension of the selected content curriculum and instructional  strategies of the Millard Education Program. Extracurricular school-sponsored clubs and activities serve as an extension of the Millard Education Program by providing and promoting opportunities, activities, experiences, and/or programs which supplement the subject matter of specific courses, extend the skills taught in specific courses, reinforce the instruction provided in specific courses, provide career activities and exploration, recognize and promote academic achievement and excellence, provide intramural athletic competition, enhance school support and spirit, or provide for the administration of student government or student body activities.

II.        Approval Procedures and Criteria

A.         Certain extracurricular school-sponsored clubs and activities are established and recognized as being school-sponsored and an extension of the Millard Education Program and they shall not be required to obtain approval, except for funding, when properly operating under this Rule. These established and recognized extracurricular school-sponsored clubs and activities include:

                  High School Level:

                       Middle School Level:                     

                        Elementary School Level:

B.              All other presently existing and all other suggested future extracurricular school-sponsored clubs and activities shall be required to seek and obtain approval in accordance with the following procedures and criteria.

1.         A suggestion form from the District Activities Committee shall be properly and fully completed by the school certificated staff member who suggests the formation of the extracurricular school-sponsored club or activity and who proposes and is qualified to serve as the certificated staff sponsor.  Such suggestion forms will be submitted by certificated staff employed by the District only.

 2.         Such suggestion forms shall be submitted to the school principal or designee.  All suggestion forms which are not properly and fully completed shall not be considered.

3.         The principal or designee shall review the suggestion form and such other information considered to be appropriate and make a written recommendation whether or not to form such a school-sponsored club or activity based on the criteria set forth hereinafter. If the suggestion is accepted by the building principal or designee, the suggestion form will be forwarded with a written recommendation to the District Activities Committee within forty (40) school days after receipt of the suggestion form.

4.         Within eighty (80) school days after receipt of the suggestion form and written recommendation, the District Activities Committee shall meet, review the suggestion form and recommendation of the principal or designee and such other information considered to be appropriate, and make a written decision to approve or deny the formation of such a school-sponsored club or activity based on the criteria set forth below. 

5.         When reviewing any suggestion to form a new extracurricular school-sponsored club or activity, the principal or designee and the District Activities Committee shall evaluate the following considerations and criteria.  Whether the suggested school-sponsored club or activity:

a.   Provides and promotes opportunities, activities, experiences, and/or programs which supplement the subject matter of specific courses, extend the skills taught in specific courses, or reinforce the instruction provided in specific courses.

b.   Provides and promotes opportunities, activities, experiences, and/or programs which involve career activities or career exploration.

c.   Provides and promotes opportunities, activities, experiences, and/or programs which involve career preparation and technical education, such as business education, career guidance and counseling, family and consumer sciences, industrial education, marketing education, health occupations education, or diversified occupations education.

d.   Recognizes and promotes academic achievement and excellence.

e.   Provides problem-solving skills or higher level thinking skills through club competition or club exercises.

f.    Provides hands-on experiences which extend the learning process beyond the classroom or provides opportunities to practice and apply the curriculum or skills taught in specific courses.

g.   Provides and promotes opportunities, activities, experiences, and/or programs which involve intramural athletic competition, team leadership and cooperation, sportsmanship, sports and recreation skills, physical development, or physical education.

h.   Provides and promotes opportunities, activities, experiences, and/or programs which enhance school support and spirit through organized cheering, support the school’s interscholastic athletics and activities programs, or build student morale, student spirit, or positive support for the school and the school’s interscholastic programs.

i.    Provides for the administration of student government or student body or class activities and programs.

j.    Provides for and promotes middle school level exploration of activities, socialization, or citizenship.

k.   Shows evidence of strong student interest and has potential for growth and longevity.

l.    Has adequate funding.  Funding should not be diverted from existing school-sponsored clubs or activities so as to create new ones.

m.  Has adequate facilities available.

n.   Has qualified and competent sponsors available, who are District certificated staff, or selected community volunteers, or paid volunteers.

o.   Duplicates the general purposes of an existing sponsored club or activity, an existing equal access student group, or existing activities or programs which are already available within the District or within the community.

p.   Is appropriate for the knowledge level, intellectual maturity, competence, and age of the students.

q.   Involves exposure to or risks of injury or harm.

r.    Can operate in compliance with federal and state laws and the policies and rules of the District.

s.    Is an appropriate addition to the number and nature of clubs or activities at a school.

6.         No extracurricular school-sponsored clubs or activities shall involve or promote the indoctrination or advocacy of partisan, political, ideological, or religious beliefs.

7.         No extracurricular school-sponsored clubs or activities shall be a secret fraternity or secret organization.

III.       Student Participation

A.        Participation of students in extracurricular school-sponsored clubs and activities is encouraged, and participation shall be open to and limited to all students who are currently enrolled in the sponsoring school on a voluntary basis as well as Exempt School Students and Nonpublic School Students pursuant to District Rules 6675.1 and 6680.1.  Extracurricular school-sponsored clubs and activities may establish academic or course enrollment qualifications for participation if such qualifications are necessarily related to the purposes of that extracurricular school-sponsored club or activity.

B.        Students will be limited in participating in activities of a non-school nature during school hours.  Prior to such participation, approval must be granted by the building administrator.

IV.       Governance

All extracurricular school-sponsored clubs and activities shall be under the exclusive governance and control of school personnel.  Such exclusive governance and control shall include, but shall not be limited to, the formation, naming, structure, operation, financing, and discontinuance of all extracurricular school-sponsored clubs and activities.  Extracurricular school-sponsored clubs and activities shall not have any separate or individual existence, status, rights, or authority.

V.        Sponsors

A.        Each extracurricular school-sponsored club and activity must have a sponsor who is a District certificated staff member, or selected community volunteer or paid sponsor, who is qualified by virtue of education, training, experience, or special interest to serve as the sponsor.  The principal or designee shall select the sponsor.  The District certificated staff member who submits a suggestion form may or may not be selected as the sponsor.

B.        Sponsors shall be required to: develop materials, activities, and a budget; promote membership and participation; communicate with the principal or designee, staff, students, and parents; schedule meeting dates and locations; plan meaningful experiences; supervise students during activities; evaluate and make recommendations; and submit a year-end report to the principal or designee.

C.        An assignment as a sponsor is an annual appointment.  One (1) activity stipend may be issued to a District certificated staff member for extracurricular school-sponsored clubs or activities, in accordance with budgeting procedures, that have between ten (10) and forty-five (45) active participants.  When unanticipated participation exceeds forty-five (45) active participants, an additional activity stipend may be issued for an additional sponsor for the current school year only upon approval by the Superintendent or designee.  Any such additional stipends will terminate at the end of the current school year. Under certain circumstances which sometimes exist with different types of extracurricular school-sponsored clubs or activities, the individual schools may be excluded from these number restrictions with the approval of the Superintendent or designee.  With the approval of the principal or designee, two (2) or more District certificated staff members may be allowed to split an activity stipend for an extracurricular school-sponsored club or activity.

VI.       Review and Revocation

A.        The principal or designee shall review the activities and purposes of extracurricular school-sponsored clubs and activities on a regular basis and the principal or designee may, on their own initiative or upon any complaint or request by students, certificated staff, or parents, recommend to the District Activities Committee that recognition of any extracurricular school-sponsored club or activity be revoked.  Recommendations for revocation shall be forwarded to and processed by the District Activities Committee in the manner provided above for applications.

B.        The District Activities Committee may on its own initiative, review and revoke the recognition of any extracurricular school-sponsored club or activity.

I. Interscholastic Athletics and Activities

Interscholastic athletics and activities programs shall be established for both sexes and all such programs shall be sanctioned by and be in compliance with the rules and regulations of the Nebraska School Activities Association, the National Federation of State High School Associations, and the policies and rules of the District.

II. Student Participation and Eligibility

A. In compliance with the rules established by the Nebraska School Activities Association, the principal or designee has the responsibility for determining the eligibility of students.

B. It shall be the responsibility of the coach to determine which candidates shall be members of the team.

C. Standards for participation, conduct, and personal appearances shall be established by the coaches and such standards shall be reasonable and consistent with the philosophy and goals established by the District. In the case of any dispute, the principal or designee shall be responsible for resolving the dispute.

D. All participating students shall meet the requirements, rules and regulations established by the Nebraska School Activities Association, the National Federation of State High School Associations, and the District.

III. Approval Procedures and Criteria for New Interscholastic Sports and Activities

A. All interscholastic sports and activities shall obtain approval for adoption by the District in accordance with the following procedures and criteria.

1. An Interscholastic Sports and Activities application form shall be completed by the school principal or designee and submitted to the District Activities Committee.

2. When reviewing the application for an interscholastic sport or activity, the District Activities Committee and the Board of Education shall evaluate the following considerations and criteria. Whether the interscholastic sport or activity:

a. Can be conducted in compliance with the rules and regulations of the Nebraska School Activities Association and the District.

b. Will meet a strong student interest which is not being met by the District or other community sports or activity programs.

c. Is appropriate for the knowledge level, intellectual maturity, competence, and age of the students.

d. Has potential for growth.

e. Will equalize the opportunities for girls and boys and meet the intent of Title IX.

f. Provides adequate opportunity for participation and competition.

g. Duplicates the general purposes of an existing interscholastic sport or activity offered by the District or other community sports or activities offerings.

h. Given the number and nature of interscholastic sports and activities in the District and community, it is appropriate to add the interscholastic sport or activity.

i. The season in which the interscholastic sport or activity would be held allows for adequate participation and competition, given the weather and geographical conditions.

j. Adequate facilities are available for the interscholastic sports or adding a newly sanctioned interscholastic sport or activity should not overburden existing facilities.

k. Adequate funding is available for the newly sanctioned interscholastic sport or activity. Funding should not be diverted from existing interscholastic sports or activities to create new ones. All funding requirements, including start up and annual operation costs, must be considered.

l. Qualified and competent coaches and staff are available.

IV. Coaches

A. All interscholastic sports and activities must have a coach or sponsor who is a District certificated staff member or selected community member who meets District and Nebraska School Activities Association requirements. 

B. An assignment as a coach or sponsor of interscholastic sports and activities is an annual appointment. One (1) activity stipend may be issued to a District certificated staff member or selected community member who meets District and Nebraska School Activities Association requirements for interscholastic sports and activities, in accordance with budgeting procedures. When unanticipated participation occurs, as determined by the Superintendent or designee upon request from a school, an additional interscholastic activity stipend per season may be issued for an additional coach or sponsor for only the current school year upon approval by the Superintendent or designee. The funds used for this additional interscholastic activity stipend must come from budgets already allotted to the school by the District and cannot come from other funds or resources of the school. Any such additional stipends will terminate at the end of the current school year. With the approval of the principal or designee, two (2) or more District certificated staff members may be allowed to split an activity stipend for an interscholastic athletic program or extracurricular activity.

V. Review and Discontinuance

A. The District Activities Committee shall regularly review the interscholastic sports and activities and the District Activities Committee may recommend to the Superintendent that any interscholastic sport or activity be discontinued. Recommendations for discontinuance shall be forwarded to and processed by the Board of Education in the manner provided above for interscholastic sports or activities.

B. The Board of Education may on its own initiative, review and discontinue any interscholastic sport or activity.

I. The goal for each student participating in extracurricular activities shall be a balanced program of appropriate academic studies and extracurricular school-sponsored clubs and activities and interscholastic athletics and activities, to be determined by the school, the parents, and the students. This should be a shared responsibility.

II. Guidance is necessary to encourage the non-participating students to consider extracurricular school- sponsored clubs and activities and interscholastic athletics and activities, and to prevent the over-enthusiastic students from over-emphasizing clubs, activities, and athletics at the cost of their academic performance.

III. Activities which are for public view are to be kept to the minimum necessary for their educational value. Public performances of the activities are to be supervised in order to prevent excessive time and effort expenditures by students. Public performances may not be held for purposes which contribute to private gain or advantage.

IV. District-wide events shall be approved by the Superintendent or designee.

V. School events should not be scheduled after 5:00 p.m. and should conclude by 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday evenings. Exceptions shall be permitted for district and/or state contest dates determined by the NSAA as well as contest dates determined by the Metro Conference for its tournament schedules.

I. Attendance at all school social events will be restricted to members of the student body, the class or club concerned, and their guests. Parents are always welcome at school functions.

II. All school social events shall be properly chaperoned at the direction and approval of the building principal or designee.

III. Permission to have school social events shall be obtained from the building principal or designee and placed on the calendar. The principal or designee shall require the group and their sponsor to work out all details for preparation and clean-up of the event.

IV. All school social events held on school nights should end by 11:00 p.m. unless changed by the principal or designee.

V. The building principal or designee shall determine the number of school social events to be held each year.

I. The building principal or designee shall be responsible for the building’s intramural athletic program which shall be a balanced intramural athletic program for both sexes and with appropriate intramural athletics for appropriate levels.

II. The building principal or designee shall see that the intramural athletic program is properly organized and supervised, including the supervision of both participants and spectators.

III. Care shall be taken that intramural athletics are conducted primarily for the benefit of participants.

IV. The focus of the intramural athletic program shall be on participation.

Extracurricular school-sponsored clubs and activities, and interscholastic athletics and activities involving the transportation of participants or spectators in school-sponsored vehicles shall be subject to the following guidelines:

I. All trips shall originate and terminate at the school.

II. All school rules and the District’s Standards for Student Conduct shall be in effect.

III. Written approval of the student’s parent or guardian must be secured prior to departure.

IV. A trip permit may be signed by a student’s parent or guardian and placed on file with the principal or designee for the school year.

V. The principal or designee will arrange transportation for District interscholastic and extracurricular activities and athletics participants. Trips that are scheduled for a length of time beyond sixteen (16) hours, or which may require student involvement or transportation beyond 12:00 a.m., or which require overnight accommodations, shall not be approved unless the mode of transportation has a properly permitted or licensed driver who complies with the hourly driving limitations of Title 92, Nebraska Administrative Code, Chapter 91-004.07G. Certificated staff who are operating the transportation provided for interscholastic or extracurricular activities or athletics shall also comply with the hourly driving limitations of Title 92, Nebraska Administrative Code, Chapter 91-004.07G.

A. The coach or sponsor and principal or designee will ensure that the hourly driving limitations of Title 92, Nebraska Administrative Code, Chapter 91-004.07G are communicated to the provider of transportation prior to the start of the trip.

B. The coach or sponsor will ensure that the provider of transportation provides a written plan to the principal or designee prior to the start of the trip that adheres to the hourly driving limitations of Title 92, Nebraska Administrative Code, Chapter 91-004. 07G.

C. The time of departure for the trip shall be no earlier than 5:00 a.m. on the starting day of the trip. Exceptions to this time of departure must have the prior approval of the Executive Director of Activities, Athletics, and External Affairs.

D. When the anticipated time of departure for the trip is earlier than 6:00 a.m. on the day of the event, the trip shall be subject to the following guidelines:

1. The time of departure must have the prior approval of the Executive Director of Activities, Athletics, and External Affairs, or

2. The coach or sponsor must arrange for the overnight accommodations of the students, drivers, chaperones, and coaches or sponsors involved on the trip for the night prior to the event, and

3. The overnight accommodations must be reserved prior to the start of the trip and will follow the overnight travel and trip guidelines.

E. The time of arrival on the return date of the trip shall be no later than 12:00 a.m. on the day of the event. When the anticipated time of arrival on the return date of the trip is later than 12:00 a.m., that time must have the prior approval of the Executive Director of  Activities, Athletics, and External Affairs

F. When the anticipated time of arrival for the trip is later than 12:00 a.m. on the day of the event, the trip shall be subject to the following guidelines:

1. The coach or sponsor will arrange for the overnight accommodations of the students, drivers, chaperones, and coaches or sponsors involved on the trip for the concluding night of the event. Those involved on the trip will return to the school on the next day, and

2. The overnight accommodations must be reserved prior to the start of the trip, and

3. The coach or sponsor will follow the overnight travel and trip policies and rules, or

4. Upon the arrival to the school the students involved on the trip shall leave the school by means other than walking. A certificated staff member of the school will remain in a designated area at the school with the students involved on the trip until all of those students have left the school.

a. The designated area at the school is subject to approval by the principal or designee.

b. The designated area at the school will be communicated to the parents/guardians of the students involved on the trip prior to the trip.

c. Students on the trip are to remain in the designated area of the school until they are released by the certificated staff member.

d. The name(s) of any person(s) other than the parents/guardians of the students involved on the trip who will retrieve the student(s) after arrival to the school must be provided to the coaches or sponsors prior to the trip.

e. The person(s) retrieving the students at the conclusion of the trip must come to the designated area at the school for the trip to retrieve the students.

g. Any exceptions to these guidelines must have the prior approval of the Executive Director of Activities, Athletics, and External Affairs.

VI. The coach or sponsor, in consultation with the principal or designee, may give a student permission to use alternate transportation.

I. All school rules apply in addition to the District’s Standards for Student Conduct.

II. Every effort should be made to use teacher or parent chaperones. Volunteer chaperones must be screened according to the volunteer approval process pursuant to District Rule 6910.1. For volunteers, there should be at least a one- month lead time to allow for background checks.

III. At least one (1) certificated employee of the District shall accompany any student group during an overnight event of that student group.

IV. Certificated employees are on duty during the entire time of the travel and trip.

V. The head coach or sponsor will provide the travel and trip plan to the principal or designee within the deadline established by the principal or designee.

VI. Students will be under supervision of adults at all times.

VII. The sleeping quarters shall be gender specific.

VIII. Volunteer chaperones will report any behavior problems immediately to the certificated staff member(s).

IX. Prior to departure, certificated staff members will discuss the specific chaperone responsibilities with the volunteer chaperones and provide written guidelines.

X. In addition to the head coach or sponsor, a minimum of one (1) additional gender specific chaperone is required for every 25 students. Based upon the location of the trip, the number of the chaperones may be increased.

XI. Consideration of student gender should be made when selecting chaperones.

XII. Emergency contact information for each student will be accessible while on the trip.

XIII. Emergency contact information for the coach or sponsor will be provided to parents.

XIV. In the event of a student's illness or injury a parent will be contacted immediately so a plan about the student’s welfare can be determined. A designated building principal will be on call 24 hours a day during the full length of the trip and will be made aware of any medical or discipline situation.

XV. In the event of serious illness or injury 911 will be called and the parent notified of the situation and hospital location as soon as reasonably possible. To the extent that adequate staff if available, a staff member may accompany the student(s) to the hospital. A Building principal will be made aware of the situation.

XVI. A school/program administrator may attend any overnight trip where there is travel over 100 miles.

I. All school rules apply in addition to the District’s Standards for Student Conduct.

II. Every effort should be made to use teacher or parent chaperones. Volunteer chaperones must be screened according to the volunteer approval process pursuant to District Rule 6910.1. For volunteers, there should be at least a one-month lead time to allow for background checks.

III. At least one (1) certificated employee of the District shall accompany any student group during an overnight event of that student group.

IV. Certificated employees are on duty during the entire time of the travel and trip.

V. The head coach or sponsor will provide the travel and trip plan to the principal or designee within the deadline established by the principal or designee.

VI. Students will be under supervision of adults.

VII. The sleeping quarters shall be gender specific.

VIII. Volunteer chaperones will report any behavior problems immediately to the certificated staff member(s).

IX. Prior to departure, certificated staff members will discuss the specific chaperone responsibilities with the volunteer chaperones and provide written guidelines.

X. Consideration of student gender should be made when selecting chaperones.

XI. Emergency contact information for each student will be accessible while on the trip.

XII. Emergency contact information for the coach or sponsor will be provided to parents.

XIII. In the event of a student's illness or injury, a parent will be contacted immediately so a plan about the child’s welfare can be determined. A designated principal will be on call 24 hours a day during the full length of the trip and will be made aware of any medical or discipline situation. 

XIV. In the event of serious illness or injury 911 will be called and the parent notified of the situation and hospital location as soon as reasonably possible. To the extent that adequate staff is available, a staff member may accompany the student(s) to the hospital. A principal will be made aware of the situation.