Instruction Procedure 2331P: Study of Controversial Issues/Guest Speakers

1. When an employee believes that a guest speaker will contribute to the curriculum by helping to achieve the goals and objectives of the course, the employee will follow the procedure set out below.
2. Approval of a guest speaker will be exercised in a manner consistent with the principles of free inquiry and expression. When approved, the guest speaker will be expected to adhere to the purpose of the appearance.
3. If the principal has reason to believe that the appearance of the guest would not provide a contribution to the curriculum or would be harmful to the students, he/she may deny the appearance of the guest speaker. A rationale shall accompany each disapproval.
4. The employee responsible for inviting the guest speaker shall have the responsibility of interrupting or suspending and proceeding if the presentation of the guest speaker is beyond the purpose of the appearance or is endangering to the health and safety of students and staff.
5. If the employee and the principal believe the guest speaker's topic is controversial, the employee and the principal shall meet and will determine a course of action.
6. At least two weeks before the date the speaker will visit, the employee will notify the principal on the attached form whom she/he wants to invite, relationship and contribution to the District's curriculum, background of the guest speaker relevant to the curriculum area and when the speaker will visit.
   • Any employee may request a waiver of the two-week notice period and any principal may grant such a waiver in order to accommodate the scheduling of a speaker on short notice. However, such a waiver shall be at the sole discretion of the principals and the previous granting of such waivers shall not obligate any principal to grant a waiver for any future request.
7. Unless the principal approves otherwise, the employee will not allow students who are not class members to hear the speaker.
8. The guest speaker will be registered in the office by the employee on the day he/she speaks.
   

ADOPTED: September 24, 1979
REVISED: March 24, 1997
REVISED: March 25, 2002
REVISED: November 22, 2004