Board reviews proposed student clubs; administration flags potential policy issues for religious and political materials

Britney Foster and Deanna Stallings (referred to by staff) presented a packet of student club requests from multiple secondary schools. Foster said clubs were proposed from Green Canyon, Mountain Crest and Ridgeline; Skyview did not submit any this year.

Board members asked whether religious clubs could be permitted. Foster recommended neutrality: allow student religious clubs but ensure equal treatment across beliefs and compliance with district policy. “I would suggest we should be neutral in all areas. So if a student club wants to to discuss that, we would allow them to do that,” a staff member said in the record.

Administrators flagged one political/charter‑organized club that distributed posters provided by an external organization; staff said some of those posters were not politically neutral and therefore would not meet the district’s instructional materials policy if displayed as classroom instructional materials. Foster said advisors and students were aware they needed approval for materials and that one school planned to delay poster display until permission was confirmed.

Board members and staff discussed enforcement and the role of advisors; Foster said the proposed advisor demonstrated experience managing political discussion in a neutral classroom environment. Foster noted that some clubs have formed charters in other districts and that posters supplied by outside groups could conflict with district neutrality rules, in which case posters would not be permitted as instructional materials unless placed in a context that is not instructional.

The board had no formal vote during the report; staff indicated they would work with advisors and principals on poster approval and club compliance with district policy.