 - Riverton school officials plan to update their policies for student activities and organizations following multiple requests for new district-sanctioned clubs this year.){kind=link}
(Riverton, WY) – Riverton school officials plan to update their policies for student activities and organizations following multiple requests for new district-sanctioned clubs this year.
The initial request came from the new Interact Club at Riverton High School, Superintendent Jodi Ibach recalled during a Riverton School Board meeting last week – but since then, four other groups have also come forward with similar proposals.
The influx of requests prompted a review of district policies for student activities and organizations, Ibach said, resulting in the proposal the board discussed last week.
The proposed new policy outlines three separate categories for student organizations within Fremont County School District 25: school-approved clubs (category 3), district-associated affiliates (category 2), and district-sanctioned activities (category 1).
It also more clearly defines the proposal and approval process for all three groups.
School-approved clubs
School-approved clubs are student-initiated or interest-based, and they are not affiliated with the Wyoming High School Activities Association or national or external organizations, the policy proposal states.
Club authorization comes from the building principal, according to the proposal, and the organizations are led by volunteer district employees who are responsible for supervision and student safety but who do not receive district funding or stipends.
District-associated affiliates
District-associated affiliates are programs that are affiliated with “established external organizations that provide their own framework, mission, curriculum, or governance structure,” the proposal states.
The Riverton High School Key Club and Interact Club would fall into this category, as they are affiliated with Kiwanis International and Rotary International, respectively.
However, because Interact Club is new, it “must operate on a volunteer basis for a two-year probationary period” before the district considers approving a stipend for the club’s advisor, according to the proposal, while older clubs “may have a district-paid advisor only if previously approved by the Board of Trustees.”
Interact Club began operating this year, Ibach said last week, so after one more year in operation, “we could discuss whether we have the funds in the budget to go ahead and sponsor it with a paid (advisor).”
“At that point, we’ll decide whether it becomes a part of our budget,” she said.
The superintendent has the authority to approve the affiliation agreement with clubs in category 2, the new policy proposal states, but requests for district-paid stipends or other district funding must be submitted to the board during the annual budget cycle for approval.
In addition, the policy proposal says financial operations for clubs in category 2 must be “strictly external to the district,” with financial accounts maintained “through their parent organization’s Tax Identification Number or an independent account.”
District-sanctioned activities
District-sanctioned activities are formally affiliated with the Wyoming High School Activities Association, state or national educational organizations, or activities that directly extend a district course of study, according to the policy proposal.
Clubs in this category are district-initiated, the policy says, with proposals brought forward by district administrators or staff – not students, parents, or community members.
District-sanctioned clubs also require board approval and a district-paid coach or sponsor, the policy states; their finances are “fully managed through district activity accounts,” and they are eligible for district funding, transportation and travel support.
An organization like Interact Club “will never be a category 1,” Ibach noted, “because it’s not WHSAA or co-curricular.”
The board will officially consider adopting the policy proposals during subsequent meetings.
For more information, call FCSD 25 at (307) 856-9407.