Campus Visitor Guidelines

Rockdale ISD Campus Visitor Guidelines

We are proud of our schools and welcome visitors. In order to protect the security of our students and staff and the learning environment at our schools, visitors must adhere to the following guidelines:

• All visitors to campuses must report to the school office, may be asked to present government-issued photo ID, sign in, state reason for being on campus and obtain approval from the principal or designee.

• All visitors to school campuses shall wear a visitor name badge provided by the school office. 

• Visitors who wish to disseminate information to students or staff must comply with District board policies. Visitors may not recruit for fund-raising activities, religious groups, youth groups or political causes when visiting school campuses in accordance with this policy. Please contact the RISD Administration Office for more information.

•  Media representatives shall arrange visits to school campuses with the RISD Administration Office. 

•  A request for a parent and/or others to visit a classroom must be approved by the teacher and the principal. Approval shall be subject to the classroom activities scheduled for the day of the requested visit and must be conducted in accordance with District policies.

• Due to privacy issues, videotaping in the classroom by parents is not permitted.  Exceptions shall be granted only by the superintendent or designee.  

•  Visitors who fail to comply with any of these guidelines and/or District policies may be prohibited from visiting the school and other District Facilities.

Unauthorized Persons: Refusal of Entry, Ejection, Identification

In accordance with Education Code 37§105, the District has the right to refuse entry to or eject a person from property under the District's control if the person refuses to leave peaceably upon request and:

1. The individual poses a substantial risk of harm to any person; or

2. The individual continues to behave in a manner inappropriate for the school setting after having received a verbal or written warning to cease the inappropriate behavior.

A person ejected from or refused entry to District property under this provision may appeal this action by filing an appeal under FNG(LOCAL) or GF(LOCAL) and shall be permitted to address the Board in person within 90 days of the commencement of the appeal if the grievance is not resolved at a previous level. 

Procedures for Parents or Other Visitors Who are Registered Sex Offenders

Section 38.022 of the Texas Education Code and District policy GKC (Legal) require a registered sex offender who enters the premises of any school in Texas during the standard operating hours of the school to immediately notify the administrative office of the school of the person's presence on the premises of the school and the person's registration status. The office will provide a chaperone to accompany the person while the person is on the premises of the school.

If a visitor to a campus is positively identified as a registered sex offender, the District has a responsibility to protect students and staff, respect the rights of the visitor, and abide by public law and any pertinent court orders. To that end, the following actions are recommended should a visitor be positively identified as a registered sex offender. If the visitor is not a parent, guardian, or other documented custodian of a student on the campus, the principal or designee will ask the person to immediately leave the property. District security will then be immediately contacted to report the situation.

If the visitor is a parent, guardian, documented custodian, or other family member with a right to see a student, the principal or designee will arrange for the visitor to have a chaperone while the visitor is on the property. The chaperone will maintain visual contact with the visitor at all times the visitor is on the property. The principal or designee, in complying with campus procedures, may determine to what areas of the building the visitor may have access and whether the visitor may visit a classroom. 

If a visitor positively identified as a registered sex offender is documented as a person who will be dropping off or picking up a student, the principal or designee will make the staff members who are responsible for supervising drop-offs/pick-ups aware of the person’s status. Supervisory staff members will visually verify that the visitor is dropping off/picking up the correct student.

The Superintendent will be made aware of situations involving a registered sex offender who is a legitimate visitor to a campus. District and campus administration will ensure that the visitor is not in violation of any court orders through the visitor’s presence on the Campus.

A registered sex offender wishing to serve as a volunteer on a campus must notify the principal of his or her intent to volunteer. The principal will advise the person wishing to volunteer of the appropriate application process and will notify the Superintendent of the Situation.

Individuals who fail to comply with the requirements provided herein may be temporarily and/or permanently denied access to District campuses and facilities. These requirements do not apply to:

1. A student enrolled at the school;

2. A student from another school participating at an event at the school; or

3. A person who has entered into a written agreement with the school that exempts the person from these requirements.

Code of Crim. Proc. 62.064; Health and Safety Code 481.134