Schools to review flier rules: County examines legality questions

9/8/06 * Daily Progress [full story]

Religious groups’ contention that the Albemarle County School Board’s flier distribution and building access policies are unconstitutional has prompted the division to change its guidelines.

The board, however, has yet to reach a consensus on whether to allow all groups to distribute fliers and use buildings or limit circulation and building use to school and government organizations. A third option for flier distribution is to end it altogether.

After students at Hollymead Elemen-tary were denied permission to hand out fliers announcing a church-sponsored vacation Bible school during summer session, their father contacted Liberty Counsel, a nonprofit group that offers litigation and policy advice. Liberty Counsel sent a letter to Albemarle County officials advising that the school system’s flier distribution policy was unconstitutional. Soon after, county School Board attorney Mark Trank called Liberty Counsel explaining that the board would change its policy.

....

Brian Wheeler, the at-large School Board member, supported allowing all outside groups that provide a service to the community to give out fliers. However, he proposed that each flier have a disclaimer explaining that Albemarle County schools are not affiliated with the mission of any group.

“If we did that, I think the benefits we get as a community from advertising some of these services that are important to our families would outweigh the downside of things going out that we might have otherwise said no to in the past,” he said.

Comments

[Anne Marie Pace]

Do we have to have MORE fliers? End the paper flow, period. It's a waste of natural resources, staff time, and my energy (sorting and discarding multiple copies of everything)!

[bawheeler]

Anne - Thanks for commenting. I just wrote a lengthy post separately on this topic which addresses some of your concerns. The Principals seem to be on your side and have asked the Superintendent to recommend we eliminate all outside flyers. However, the average distribution is about 2 a week at the most, according to the data provided to the School Board. I know from going through my son's backpack Friday, ALL the flyers were school-related and they always far outnumber the outside organizations. But I hear you... I know it is work for our staff to sort and stuff. Our guidelines should be clear on the schedule for any submissions (i.e. don't bring us your last minute communications crisis) and that they should be doing the printing not you. Brian Wheeler

[Bill Goldeen]

Brian, I totally agree with your view on the flyer issue. In order to not burden schools with extra work, outside groups need to be required to supply the fliers bundled and labled by class.

We have received interesting program information over the years through school fliers. From those fliers our kids have had many fun experiences.

If we are not interested, we have a recycle box.

[Sara Witt]

Timelines for submissions and printing isn't the issue Ms. Pace raises in her letter. It's the instructional time used to pass out the information that is her concern. As far as averages go, they can be incredibly misleading, as well as meaningless to the teacher who rarely deals with the "average" number of anything. Whether it's two fliers one week and four the next, every minute of instructional time is valuable and should be treated as such. I want my students to end the day well organized with homework written down clearly, backpacks packed with what they need, and desks and materials prepared to get off to a successful the start the next morning. Some children need individual help with these tasks, which means they need my time and attention. They need a teacher, not a mailman.