This Policy is under review.

1500 - Visitors to and Conduct on School Property

Last Updated Date: 01/11/2021

Adoption Date: 11/13/1995

Revision History:

For purposes of this policy, “school property” means school buildings, District buildings not being used as a school, vehicles used for school purposes, any location during a school athletic and other school-sponsored event, and school grounds. A “visitor” is any person other than an enrolled student or District employee.

All visitors to school property are required to report to the Building Principal’s office and receive permission to remain on school property. All visitors must sign a visitors’ log, show identification, and wear a visitor’s badge. When leaving the school, visitors must return their badge. On those occasions when large groups of parents/guardians, friends, and/or community members are invited onto school property or when community members are attending Board meetings, visitors are not required to sign in but must follow school officials’ instructions. Persons on school property without permission will be directed to leave and may be subject to criminal prosecution.

In addition to prohibitions in other District policies, no person on school property shall:

  1. Strike, injure, threaten, harass, or intimidate a staff member, a Board member, sports official or coach, or any other person.
  2. Damage another’s property or that of the District.
  3. Behave in an unsportsmanlike manner, or use vulgar or obscene language.
  4. Violate any provision of the criminal law of the State of Illinois or local ordinance.
  5. Smoke or otherwise use tobacco products.
  6. Distribute, consume, use, possess, or be under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, cannabis, other lawful product, or illegal drug; be present when the person’s alcoholic beverage, cannabis, other lawful product or illegal drug consumption is detectible, regardless of when and/or where the use occurred.
  7. Unless specifically permitted by State law, possess a weapon, any object that can reasonably be considered a weapon or looks like a weapon, or any dangerous device.
  8. Delay, disrupt or otherwise interfere with any school activity or function (including using cellular phones in a disruptive manner.)
  9. Enter upon any portion of school premises at any time for purposes other than those that are lawful and authorized by the Board.
  10. Operate a motor vehicle: (a) in a risky manner, (b) in excess of 20 miles per hour, (c) in violation of an authorized District employee's directive or, (d) in violation of State or local law.
  11. Engage in any conduct that interferes with, disrupts, or adversely affects the District or a School function.
  12. Willfully violate other District rules and regulations.
  13. Use or possess medical cannabis, unless he or she has complied with policy 5500, Administering Medicine to Students, implementing Ashley’s Law.
  14. Engage in any risky behavior, including roller-blading, roller-skating, or skateboarding.

As circumstances warrant, appropriate action will be taken by the District’s administrators.

Child Sex Offender

State law prohibits a child sex offender from being present on school property or loitering within 500 feet of school property when persons under the age of 18 are present, unless the offender is:

  1. A parent/guardian of a student attending the school and has notified the Building Principal of his or her presence at the school for the purpose of: (i) attending a conference at the school with school personnel to discuss the progress of his or her child academically or socially, (ii) participating in child review conferences in which evaluation and placement decisions may be made with respect to his or her child regarding special education services, or (iii) attending conferences to discuss other student issues concerning his or her child such as retention and promotion; or
  2. Has permission to be present from the Board, Superintendent, or Superintendent's designee. If permission is granted, the Superintendent or Board President shall provide the details of the offender's upcoming visit to the Building Principal.

In all cases, the Superintendent, or designee who is a certified employee, shall supervise a child sex offender whenever the offender is in a child's vicinity.

Exclusive Bargaining Representative Agent

Upon notifying the Building Principal’s office, authorized agents of an exclusive bargaining representative will be provided reasonable access to employees in the bargaining unit they represent in accordance with State law. Such access shall be conducted in a manner that will not impede the normal operations of the District. Please refer to the applicable collective bargaining agreement.

Procedures to Deny Future Admission to School Events or Meetings

Before any person, other than child sex offenders as discussed above, may be denied future admission to athletic and extracurricular school events or Board meetings as provided in this policy, the person has a right to a hearing before the Board or Board designated hearing officer. The Superintendent or designee may refuse the person admission pending such hearing. The Superintendent or designee must provide the person with a hearing notice, delivered or sent by certified mail with return receipt requested, at least 10 days before the Board hearing date. The hearing notice must contain:

  1. The date, time, and place of the hearing;
  2. A description of the prohibited conduct;
  3. The proposed time period that admission to school events will be denied; and
  4. Instructions on how to waive a hearing.

The Superintendent has the discretion to deny future admission for all persons to school property for violation of this policy at all other times.

Enforcement

Any staff member may request identification from any person on school grounds or in any school building: refusal to provide such information is a criminal act. The Building Principal or designee shall seek the immediate removal of any person who refuses to provide requested identification.

As circumstances warrant, the District’s administrators shall take appropriate action to enforce this policy. Violations will be handled as follows:

  • Anyone observing a student violating this policy shall notify the Building Principal where the student is enrolled and the Principal shall take whatever action is appropriate under the student conduct code.
  • The supervisor of any employee violating this policy shall take whatever action is appropriate according to personnel rules and bargaining agreements, if any.
  • Anyone observing a parent/guardian or other person violating this policy shall immediately notify the Building Principal or designee. The Principal or designee will request that the person act in a civil manner or otherwise refrain from the prohibited conduct. If the person persists with uncivil or prohibited behavior, the principal shall request that the person immediately leave school property and may contact law enforcement, if appropriate.
  • If a child sex offender violates this policy, school officials shall immediately contact law enforcement.

Any person who engages in conduct prohibited by this policy may be ejected from school property. The person is also subject to being denied admission to school events or meetings for up to one calendar year.

Policy References:

Pro-Children Act of 1994, 20 U.S.C. 6081 105 ILCS 5/10-20.b, 5/24-24, and 5/24-25 410 ILCS130/, Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program 430 ILCS 66/, Firearm Concealed Carry Act 410 ILCS 705/, Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act 720 ILCS 5/11-9.3