ANCHORAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

MEMORANDUM		January 30, 2008
TO:	PRINCIPALS AND SUPERVISORS
FROM:	CAROL COMEAU SUPERINTENDENT
SUBJECT:	POLITICAL ACTIVITIES	Printable version

Please review School Board Policy 841 with your staff at your next meeting so that they are very clear as to what activities are allowable during this current political season. Any questions should be directed to you, your supervisor or Instructional Division Executive Director, Rhonda Gardner, George Vakalis, or Michelle Egan in Communications.

We encourage candidates and elected officials to visit our schools and departments to better understand the programs and operations of the Anchorage School District; if one candidate for a particular election category is invited to make a classroom or staff presentation, then all candidates in a specific race must be extended the same invitation so as to avoid all accusations of partiality. Candidates may leave material in the faculty lounge and break rooms, but political buttons, pins, etc. may not be worn by staff while on duty. Any candidate or political organization wishing to use District facilities (inside and outside) for any purpose must work with the Community Rentals office; no school official or staff member can grant access to a part of an ASD school or facility, this is in compliance with School Board policy for the use of ASD buildings.

Students may not make posters or signs supporting a candidate and/or a ballot proposition during their school time, nor can signs be displayed on District facilities which advocate for passage or defeat of any initiative, ballot proposition, bond proposition and/or candidate. ASD owned vehicles may not display partisan political signage. Schools should not be encouraged to campaign for candidates or bond propositions during the school day. Signs in employee's personal car windows do not come under these restrictions.

The municipal election in April will impact all of us for the next two months. This pertains to School Board and Assembly candidates and to pro/con ballot and bond proposition advocates. No political campaigning is allowed on military installations.

PTA/PTSA groups and other parent or community organizations that are independent of the District may choose to distribute materials at a designated location with the knowledge of the school principal. In most cases, this would only be done after an official vote of their membership. Students may not be used as couriers of PTA/PTSA/or parent organization advocacy positions nor can school newsletters be used for these positions. PTA/PTSA/parent organization may mail, through the U. S. mail system, fliers and newsletters to their memberships; names and addresses of students may not be given to these organizations by school officials. ASD Bond information approved by our legal counsel may be included in newsletters.

All employees are expected to follow these policies during their work day and when they are representing the Anchorage School District in any capacity. Employees may not advocate for ballot propositions and/or candidates during their work day; participating in political activities as private citizens beyond the work day is their individual right as citizens.

If you have questions about these issues, please contact me or the others listed. 

cc:

School Board Members All Candidates Rhonda Gardner George Vakalis Janet Stokesbary Michelle Egan Heidi Embley Terry Wilson Eric Tollefsen Leslie Preston Jeff Wood Instructional Team Executive Directors Duane Moran, ACE Ron Fuhrer, AEA Mike Graham, APA William Meers, Local 71 Tim Morgan, Teamsters Dale Miller, Teamsters Sharon Baker, TOTEM Damita Owen, MECAC Kitte' Miller, SBY