FFA: Memorials and Scholarships

Code: FFA

Adopted: 7/15/10; 6/08/11

Memorials

The Board recognizes that when a school community experiences the death of a student or staff member, it is important to the school community and to those who are personally affected by the death to acknowledge the event.  Additionally, certain traumatic events occurring on a local, state or national level may also give rise to the need for district acknowledgment through appropriate activities.  Requests from students, staff, parents or others for remembering or memorializing a person or event may be approved by the superintendent or designee, subject to the provisions of this policy.

The Board recognizes that memorials of flowers, personal messages and mementoes are often created at lockers, parking spaces and other areas on district property upon such losses or events.  Memorials may be permitted at the discretion of the building administrator.  He/She will consult with the family of the deceased, as appropriate.  The display of all remembrances will be temporary in nature, removed in a timely manner and offered to the family.

Requests may be made to memorialize an individual or event in school yearbooks, at graduation ceremonies and other district activities.  Activities that will not detract from scheduled classroom or school activities, or the celebration of student accomplishments may, with prior building administrator approval, be authorized.  Activities or events may be rescheduled or cancelled with prior superintendent approval only.

In considering memorial activity requests, the administration will balance memorializing or commemorating the individual or event on the one hand, while not creating an atmosphere that glamorizes a traumatic event or self-destructive behavior on the other.

Schools may observe a moment of silence in memory of the individual or in recognition of certain traumatic events as deemed appropriate by the superintendent or designee.  Additional district counseling services may be made available to provide support.  Deaths will not be announced or memorialized on reader boards.   School will not be dismissed early or cancelled on the day of a memorial or funeral service without superintendent approval.  Flags may be lowered only in accordance with state and federal law. District property (e.g., buildings, rooms, fields, gymnasiums, etc.) may be named or renamed to memorialize an individual with Board approval only.

In collaboration with the building administrators, plaques may be hung commemorating the deceased.  The Board may approve permanent living memorials, such as planting trees.

Scholarships

Memorial scholarships may be accepted and awarded under criteria approved by the district in honor of persons who have special significance to the students, district or community.  All such offers will be submitted to the superintendent with pertinent information concerning the purpose of the memorial

scholarship.  Funds will be administered by the district.  Items may be accepted by the district in memory of an individual or event with superintendent approval only.  The superintendent will consider any maintenance costs to the district of such gifts.  Items received become the property of the district and will be used for the purpose for which they were donated.

END OF POLICY

Legal Reference(s):

ORS 332.107

ORS 332.385