The board recognizes that donations and sponsorships from corporate or private sources for programs and activities related to education can provide valuable enhancement of the educational opportunities available to the students of Linn-Mar Community School District. For that reason, the Linn-Mar Board of Education may enter into sponsorship and/or partnership arrangements under certain conditions.
DEFINITIONS
- Educational Partnership: An educational partnership is a mutually beneficial cooperative relationship in which partners share values, objectives, and/or human or financial resources to enhance learning for students.
- Educational Sponsorship: An educational sponsorship is an arrangement pursuant to which the sponsor provides money, price reductions, equipment, materials, services, or other benefits in exchange for recognition of its products or entity for a specified period of time.
GUIDELINES
Gifts, bequests, or donations will be used in accordance with the terms designated by the donor, partner, or sponsor. However, the district reserves the right not to accept a gift, bequest, or donation that does not fit with its mission, philosophy, or practice.
AUTHORITY
On behalf of the board, the superintendent will work with a committee to recommend sponsorships or partnerships which will benefit the district. The members of the committee will include, but not be limited to two administrators, two parents, one staff member, one Linn-Mar School Foundation representative, and the superintendent. The conditions of the educational sponsorship partnership will be in writing and will include the following:
- A statement of specific benefits of the sponsorship or partnership to the district or particular school including how the sponsorship/partnership will increase student participation in academic activities or athletic programs or how the students will otherwise benefit from the agreement. The statement should also address how the sponsorship/partnership would address equity and parity across the district.
- The duration of the agreement and a statement that the board has the right to terminate the agreement without penalty if it determines in its sole discretion that the agreement is having an adverse impact on student education.
- A statement clearly defining the roles, expectations, rights, and responsibilities of all parties to the agreement. This will include a statement of the limitations of the sponsor or partner to advertise in connection with the agreement and, if so, the extent of such advertising.
- A guarantee of the monetary value to be received by the district pursuant to the agreement and how the benefits arising from the agreement will be distributed.
- A statement clearly defining whether the agreement creates any exclusive rights for the sponsor or partner and, if such rights are created, clearly defines those rights. If no exclusive rights are created, the sponsorship/partnership will not limit the discretion of the board or its personnel in the use of sponsored or non-sponsored materials.
- A statement that the board or superintendent must approve its identification as a co-sponsor in all publicity materials and retains the exclusive right to authorize the use of the district’s name, logo, or other similar information.
- A statement disclosing any relationship between the sponsor or partner or any of its employees or major stockholders and any student, district employee, board member, or the superintendent.
- A statement that the sponsorship will comply with all applicable federal and state laws, local ordinances, board policies and regulations, and all pre-existing board contracts.
- A statement that any participation by any student or district employee in any activity established pursuant to the agreement will be purely voluntary and that no sponsorship or partnership shall exploit any student or district employee.
- A statement that the sponsor or partner assumes the responsibility for obtaining the consent of any student or district employee whose likeness may appear in any materials disseminated by the partner or sponsor.
- A statement that no sponsor or partner will be permitted to collect personal information including names, street and email addresses, or telephone numbers of students or district employees because of the sponsorship or partnership.
- A statement that any curriculum materials provided pursuant to the agreement will be held to the same standards as other curriculum materials in accordance with board policy.
PROHIBITIONS
No agreement will be entered into if the sponsorship, gift, or donation involves or gives the appearance of involving any activity that could result in the following:
- Promotion of hostility or violence,
- An attack on ethnic, racial, or religious groups or any other group specified in board policy,
- Discrimination prohibited by any law or board policy,
- Promotion of the use of alcohol, firearms, drugs, tobacco/nicotine, or weapons,
- Promotion of sexual, obscene, or pornographic activities, and
- Promotion of any image that is not in keeping with the established goals and purposes of the board and Linn-Mar Community School District.
LIMITATIONS
- Donations of any form are to be made either to the Linn-Mar School Foundation or to the Linn-Mar Community School District.
- Staff must not individually benefit as the result of a gift, sponsorship, or partnership. The benefits of a gift, sponsorship, or partnership must go to the district to be distributed or assigned as appropriate.
- Any sponsorship or partnership agreement must not compromise the professional standards and ethics of the staff. In the case of the district or individual schools, sponsorship/partnership agreements must not limit or direct academic debate in the classroom or influence the curriculum or other school programs.
- Written agreements must be retained for at least seven years after the expiration of the sponsorship or partnership.
- Written agreements must not endorse or recommend any product or service. Furthermore, neither staff nor students may be involved in marketing commercial products or services of sponsors or partners.
- Plaques denoting the sponsorship or partnership will be displayed in an area designed to recognize contributions or donations near the entrance of the facility, or another designated area, and will follow guidelines on size and appearance.
Adopted: 7/07
Reviewed: 3/13; 6/15; 7/19; 7/22
Revised: 4/14
Related Policy: 1005.5
Legal Reference (Code of Iowa): 279.42; 279.8; 565.6
IASB Reference: 217; 402.04; 704.04