Policy 4119.25/4219.25 - Political Activities of Employees

Political Activities of Employees

The Board of Education recognizes the importance of political activity, voting, and civic engagement, and respects the right of district employees to engage in political discussions and activities as individuals on their own time and at their own expense. When engaging in such activities, employees shall make it clear that they are acting on their own behalf and not as representatives of the district.

District employees, as members of the community, may use school facilities for meetings, including political activities, as permitted under the Civic Center Act and district policy.

Employees shall refrain from prohibited political activities identified in law, Board policy, and rule. Employees who engage in these activities shall be subject to disciplinary action and/or criminal penalties.

RULE 4119.25/4219.25

Adopted: 08/20/2024

Last Revised: N/A

Last Reviewed: 08/20/2024

No employee shall be prohibited from soliciting or receiving political funds or contributions to promote the support or defeat of a ballot measure during nonworking time, including before and after school, the lunch period, or other scheduled work intermittency during the school day.

District employees shall not:

1. Use district funds, services, supplies, equipment, work hours, or other public resources to urge the support or defeat of any ballot measure or candidate, including any candidate for election to the Board of Education
    
2. Use the district's seal in any campaign literature or mass mailing with the intent to deceive voters, including, but not limited to, the use of a reproduction or facsimile of the seal in a manner that creates a misleading, erroneous, or false impression that the document is authorized by the Board, a Board member, or the district
    
3. During working hours, solicit or receive any political funds or contributions to promote the passage or defeat of a ballot measure that would affect the rate of pay, hours of work, retirement, civil service or other working conditions
    
4. During working hours, solicit or receive any political funds or contributions to promote the passage or defeat of other types of ballot measures
    
5. Use district equipment for the preparation or reproduction of political campaign materials
    
6. Post or distribute political campaign materials in classrooms, through distance learning platforms, or on district property
    
7. Disseminate political campaign materials through the district's mail service, e-mail, or staff mailboxes
    
8. Use students to write, address, or distribute political campaign materials
    
9. Present viewpoints on particular candidates or ballot measures in the classroom without giving equal time to the presentation of all perspectives
    
10. Wear buttons, hats, or other articles of clothing that express political opinions on ballot measures or candidates during instructional time

Political Activities of Employee Organizations
Employee organizations shall not use district funds, services, supplies, or equipment, such as staff mailboxes or the district mail system, to urge the support or defeat of any ballot measure or candidate, including any candidate for election to the Board.

No employee organization or its officers, agents, or representatives shall be prohibited from soliciting or receiving political funds or contributions to promote the passage or defeat of a ballot measure during nonworking time, including before and after school, the lunch period, or other scheduled work intermittency during the school day.