Common use of PARTICIPATION IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES Clause in Contracts

PARTICIPATION IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES. The Board of Education recognizes that bus drivers of the district have the same fundamental civic responsibilities as other citizens. Among these are campaigning for elective public office and holding an elective or appointed public office. No bus driver will use school system facilities, equipment, or supplies in connection with campaigning; nor will the bus driver use any time during the working day for campaigning purposes. Any discussions of politics in the presence of students are to be handled in such a manner as to give unbiased information. An employee shall not impose, or attempt to impose, his or her personal political philosophy upon the students. The relationship between all bus drivers and students in the school district should be one of cooperation, understanding and mutual respect. All bus drivers have the responsibility to provide an atmosphere conducive to learning, which should be accomplished through effective individual and group discipline. All students and staff will treat each other with respect. Differences and problems that arise between a bus driver and student are typically best worked out by conferences between these two (2) persons or between the bus driver and the parent of the student. However, bus drivers and students should immediately report a violation or perceived violation of the district’s nondiscrimination and anti- harassment policy (AC), regardless of whether a conference has been held. No bus driver may use his or her status as a bus driver to adversely influence a student of the district. No bus driver may date, make advances toward, or engage in any sexual relationship with a district student, regardless of the student’s age, the perceived consensual nature of the relationship, where the advances are made or whether the bus driver directly supervises the student. Further, no bus driver may discuss or plan a future romantic or sexual relationship with a student. All bus drivers possessing evidence of or witnessing such conduct or sexual harassment shall report it to the district’s administration immediately. All bus drivers or school officials who know or have reasonable cause to suspect child abuse shall immediately report the suspected abuse to the principal and to the Children’s Division (CD) of the Department of Social Services hotline, pursuant to state law.