Policy: 3510
Students
Associated Student Bodies
An Associated Student Body (ASB) will be formed in each school within the district whenever one or more students in that school engage in money-raising activities with the approval and at the direction or under the supervision of the district. An ASB will be a formal organization of students, including sub-components of affiliated student groups.
Each ASB will submit a constitution and bylaws to the board for approval. The constitution and bylaws will identify how student activities become approved as student body activities establish standards for their supervision, governance and financing. Subject to such approval process, any lawful activity that promotes the educational, recreational or cultural growth of students as an optional extracurricular activity may be considered for recognition as an ASB activity. Any lawful fundraising practices that are consistent with the goals of the district and that do not bring dishonor to the district or its students may be acceptable methods and means for raising funds for student body activities. Elementary schools are exempt from these requirements. The board may act or delegate the authority to a staff member to act as the ASB for any school that contains no grade higher than grade six.
The school principal/designee shall designate a staff member as the primary advisor to the ASB and assure that all groups affiliated with the ASB have an advisor to assist them. Advisors will have the authority and responsibility to intervene in any activities that are inconsistent with the district policy, ASB standards, student safety, or ordinarily accepted standards of school behavior. When in doubt, advisors will consult with the school principal/designee regarding the propriety of proposed student activities.
Each ASB, with the guidance of the advisor, will annually prepare and submit annually a budget for the support of the ASB program to the district superintendent or designee for consolidation into a district ASB program fund budget, who will present such budget to the board of directors for its review, revision, and approval. The budget as approved shall constitute an appropriation and authorization for the disbursement of funds for the purposes established in the budget. All property and money acquired by ASBs, except private nonassociated student body funds, will be district funds and will be deposited and disbursed from the district’s ASB program fund.
Moneys generated by ASB groups through fundraising activities or solicitation of donations by student groups in their private capacities for private purposes and/or private gifts and contributions will be private nonassociated student body fund moneys.
Solicitation of funds for nonassociated student body fund purposes must be voluntary and must be accompanied by notice of the intended use of the proceeds and the fact that the district will hold the funds in a separate account designated for their intended purpose. Nonassociated student body fund moneys will be disbursed as determined by the group raising the money. Private nonassociated student body funds will be held in a separate account designated by the district for the purposes indicated during the fundraising activities until the student group doing the fundraising requests disbursement of the funds and the accounts of the fundraising are complete and reconciled.
ASB shall refrain from engaging in political activities other than those activities directly related to ASB operations, such as student elections.
Political activities, outside of ASB operations, that shall be avoided include the influencing of legislative decisions at federal, state and local levels or participating in any campaign on behalf of any candidate for political office. ASB activities cannot include support or opposition to any political candidate for political office. ASB activities cannot include support or opposition to any political candidate or ballot measure.
The board may establish and collect a fee from students and nonstudents as a condition to their attendance at, or participation in, any optional noncredit extracurricular district event of a cultural, social, recreational, or athletic nature. If the board establishes such a fee or fees, the superintendent/designee will establish a procedure for waiving fees for students who are eligible to participate in the federal free or reduced-price meals program and for reducing fees for students’ family members and other nonstudents age sixty-five or older, who, by reason of their income, would have difficulty in paying the entire amount of such fees. Fees collected pursuant to this paragraph shall be deposited in the ASB program fund of the district
Cross References:
Board Policy 2150 – Co-Curricular Program
Procedure 3510P – Associated Student Bodies
Board Policy 3515 – Student Incentives
Board Policy 4200 – Safe and Orderly Learning Environment
Board Policy 6020 – System of Funds and Accounts
Legal References:
RCW 28A.325.010 Fees for optional noncredit extracurricular events — Disposition
RCW 28A.325.020 Associated student bodies — Powers and responsibilities affecting
RCW 28A.325.030 Associated student body program fund — Fundraising activities — Nonassociated student body program fund moneys
RCW 28A.325.050 Associated student body program fund — Publication of information on school district web site
Chapter 392-138 WAC Finance — Associated student body moneys
Adopted 4/2012
Revised: 2/2003, 12/2016, 2/2021