Section:1000 Community Relations
Policy Name:Visits to the Schools
Policy Number:1250
Date Approved:10/10/1989
Last Revised:5/12/2014


The Board and staff of the school district welcomes and encourages parents or guardians, members of the community, and other interested persons to visit the schools while in session. Such visits shall be regarded as expressions of interest in school affairs and/or efforts to become informed about school programs and activities. To preserve the security of the schools, all visitors must check in at the main office where they shall be given whatever information or assistance is required. All visitors are required to wear school-provided identification badges for the duration of their visit.

The Superintendent shall establish regulations which:

1. encourage school visitations.

2. provide appropriate hospitality for visitors.

3. channel expressions of approval as well as constructive criticism to the Board of Education.

4. ensure that public visits will not hinder the educational program.

5. require all visitors to register in the main office upon entrance to the school.

6. ensure student safety.

Visits to individual classrooms during instructional time shall be permitted only with the
Principal's and teacher's approval. Such visits shall not be permitted if their duration or frequency interferes with the delivery of instruction or disrupts the normal school environment. When a visit involves a conference with a teacher or the Principal, an appointment shall be scheduled during non-instructional time.

Since continuity in classrooms is often difficult to achieve and maintain, while visiting in a classroom, a visitor must not interrupt the class in any way, nor speak to (unless invited to do so) or disturb the students or teacher.

Although Board members are encouraged to visit schools independently, they have authority only in regularly called meetings of the Board, or when delegated specific tasks by specific Board action.

The Principal or his/her designee shall have complete authority to exclude from the school premises any persons whom he/she has reason to believe is/are disrupting the educational programs in the classroom or in the school, is/are disturbing the teachers or students on the premises, or whom the Principal believes is/are on the premises for the purposes of committing an inappropriate or illegal act.

Legal Reference:

Connecticut General Statutes:

53a-185 Loitering in or about school grounds: Class C misdemeanor