June 1, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 5 Ramsey Board policy to maintain ‘non-disruptive environment’ Last week, the Ramsey Board of Education adopted a policy entitled “Maintaining a Non-Disruptive Environment in a School Setting,” which is “designed to discourage disruptive speech or actions in a school environment.” The new policy prohibits district employees, volunteers, and other personnel from “campaigning for or engaging in political activity on behalf of any candidate for local, state, or federal office while on school property and during school hours or during officially sanctioned school activities, and while in the presence of students or in locations where students are likely to see or hear such messages.” The policy also prohibits district employees, volunteers, and other personnel from campaigning or advocating for any point of view in contract or labor negotiations or with regard to any board of education policy while on school property and during school hours or during officially sanctioned school activities, and while in the presence of students or in locations where students are likely to see or hear such messages. Campaigning or political activity during free time or break periods, even on school grounds, could take place as long as students are not present and are not likely to see or hear such messages. According to the policy, “All district employees, volunteers and other personnel must comport themselves in a manner so as to foster the board of education’s obligation to provide all students with a thorough and efficient education. Thus, while the board respects the rights of all of its employees, volunteers, and other personnel to express their political and other appropriate points of view, employees, volunteers, and other personnel must do so in a manner that does not interfere with their job performance, and in a manner which does not interfere with and is not disruptive to the orderly functioning and operation of the school district.” The policy also states, “Like all members of the general public, the board of education respects the right of its employees, volunteers, and other personnel to express their views on relevant subjects at board meetings during the period or periods designated for public comment, subject to the bounds of civility and reasonable time limits that the board may establish. However, at all times while on school grounds, at official school functions, and at board of education meetings, employees, volunteers, and other personnel are strictly prohibited from threatening or intimidating any person or from acting in a manner that a reasonable person would interpret to be threatening or intimidating in order to campaign or advocate for their political view, including but not limited to congregating in school buildings, classrooms or hallways, entrances and parking areas, or blocking the ingress and egress of members of the public in a manner (continued on page 13) For That Special Event ��� ��������������� ��������������������������������������������� Sandals ��������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������� Women’s See our website for coupons-www.giblingsfootwear.com See our website for coupons-������������������������ �������������������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������������������� ������ ������ ���� ���� �������������������������������� �������������������������������� ��������������� ��������������� ������������ ������������ ����������������������������� ���������������������