PARTICIPATION IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES

1.  Employees may exercise their right to participate fully in affairs of public interest on a local, county, state and national level on the same basis as any citizen in public or private employment and within the law.

2.  Employees may, within the limitations imposed by state and federal laws and regulations, choose any side of a particular issue and support their viewpoints as they desire by vote, discussion or persuading others. Such discussion and persuasion, however, may not be carried on during the performance of district duties, except in open discussion during classroom lessons that consider various candidates for a particular office or various sides of a particular political or civil issue consistent with district curriculum and assigned duties.

3.  On all controversial issues, employees are expected to make clear that the viewpoints they represent are personal and are not to be interpreted as the district’s official viewpoint.  No employee may use district facilities, equipment or supplies in connection with his/her campaigning, nor may he/she use any time during the working day for campaign purposes.