GBISTAFF PARTICIPATION IN
POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
GBIThe Board recognizes the right of its employees to engage in political activity as private citizens. However, such political activity will be during non-duty time, outside the classroom or any other school district setting, using their own or other private resources.
A staff member, a person acting on behalf of the District, or a person who aids another person acting on behalf of the District who intends to engage in political activities shall be guided by the following:
● The use of District resources, including the use or expenditure of monies, accounts, credit, facilities, vehicles, postage, telecommunications, computer hardware and software, web pages, personnel, equipment, materials, buildings or any other thing of value for the purpose of influencing the outcome of any election is not permitted. "Influencing the outcome of any election" means supporting or opposing a candidate for nomination or election to public office or the recall of a public officer or supporting or opposing a ballot measure, question or proposition, including any bond, budget or override election and supporting or opposing the circulation of a petition for the recall of a public officer or a petition for a ballot measure, question or proposition in any manner that is not impartial or neutral.
● No employee shall engage in political activities upon property under the jurisdiction of the Board unless employees, in their individual capacities, exercise their political liberties on property leased from the School District for that purpose.
● The prohibition on the use of public resources to influence the outcome of bond, budget override and other tax-related elections includes the use of School District-focused promotional expenditures that occur after an election is called and through election day. This prohibition does not include routine School District communications which are messages or advertisements that are germane to the functions of the School District and that maintain frequency, scope and distribution consistent with past practices or are necessary for public safety.
● Campaigning and other election activities must be done in off-duty hours, when not working in an official capacity or representing the District, and without the participation of District employees or students acting in the capacity of District or school representatives.
● Employees of the District may not use the authority of their position to influence the vote or political activities of any subordinate employees.
● Employees shall not wear political buttons, T-shirts, hats, or other items displayed on their persons, or apparel that are designed to influence the outcome of an election in a classroom, in any other instructional setting, or at a school-sponsored extracurricular event at which they are supervising or assisting with supervision or organization of the extracurricular event.
● Invitations to participate in election activities on a given campus, except when extended by groups leasing or using school facilities, shall be extended only if access is allowed to a political party, a candidate, or proponents of a ballot measure under the same terms and conditions for all other political parties, candidates, and opponents of ballot measures (i.e., equal opportunity to all viewpoints).
● The rental use of District property by a private person or entity that may lawfully attempt to influence the outcome of an election is permitted if it does not occur at the same time and place as a school-sponsored parent/student event or District-sponsored forum or debate. "District-sponsored forum or debate" refers to any event, or part of an event or meeting, in which the District is an official sponsor, which is open to the public or to invited members of the public, and whose purpose is to inform the public about an issue or proposition that is before the voters.
● Employees are prohibited from giving students written materials and from sending materials that are designed to influence the outcome of an election or to advocate support for or opposition to pending or proposed legislation regardless of the fact that no School District personnel, equipment, or resources were used to prepare the materials. This includes flyers prepared by a private citizen's group supporting a candidate or passage of a ballot measure or materials urging citizens to call their legislators to support or oppose legislation.
District employees who hold elective or appointive office are not entitled to time off from their school duties for reasons incident to such offices, except as such time may qualify under the leave policies of the Board.
The discussion and study of politics and political issues, when such discussion and study are part of the District approved curriculum, are not precluded under the provisions of this policy.
District employees shall be permitted time as provided in statute, if required, to vote in a primary or general election.
Nothing in this policy shall preclude the District from producing and distributing impartial information on elections or reporting on official actions of the Governing Board, except as in the manner provided in law for override elections. [A.R.S. 15-481(C)]
Adopted: September 8, 2015
LEGAL REF.:
A.R.S.
15-481
15-511
15-903
16-402
CROSS REF.:
KF - Community Use of School Facilities