Eastern Lancaster County School District weighs policy on student advertising
Eastern Lancaster County School District took a step closer Monday to regulating how advertising may be disseminated to students in the district.
At the Elanco board meeting, district solicitor Jeffrey Litts laid out three proposals that would control how, when and where student notices or posters can be advertised, and how student groups and community groups may distribute materials in district schools.
Without a policy, the district could open itself to legal actions from groups that may want to send unwelcome and unsolicited messages to students, Litts said.
“The courts have also repeatedly held that within forums established for viewpoint expression, the First Amendment requires school officials to be neutral in their treatment of viewpoint expression, showing neither favoritism toward, nor hostility against, any particular group or viewpoint expression,” Litts said.
But the courts have also said that school officials may establish reasonable time, place and manner restrictions on “forums provided for viewpoint expressions,” Litts said.
According to the proposal, students could post notices or posters at designated locations only for student announcements and statements of support. The student posting system would be a “limited non-public forum” where, for example, a student could set up a table with literature outside of a cafeteria or gym.
“Students would retain the right of free speech on school premises but cannot interfere with the education process and the rights of others,” Litts said.
The proposal would limit advertising from community groups to nonprofits located within the school district. However, Litts said the district could establish a creative partnership with a for-profit business such as Blue Ball Lanes, which provides facilities free of charge to the Garden Spot High School bowling team.
Elanco Superintendent Robert Hollister said he expects further input from the school board. The public can comment on the proposal at the Aug. 17 board meeting at Blue Ball Elementary School. The board is expected to formally adopt the policy in September.
“We are attempting to create a policy that will allow us to maintain our strong relationships with community organizations that are good for students while protecting the students from exposure to destructive or unwanted messages,” Hollister said. “The policy will also guide the consistent dissemination of information throughout the district.”
The full text of three proposals will be available this week on Elanco’s Web site: www.elanco.k12.pa.us.