Election Campaign Memo
DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMUNICATION
To:
From:
Date:
Subject
ALL EMPLOYEES
AMBER ELIAS, DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL
SEPTEMBER 9, 2013
CONDUCT RELATED TO GENERAL CAMPAIGN ELECTIONS
As in past years, this office is providing this memorandum as a guide to District employees regarding their conduct in political campaigns for the upcoming general election, including the DPS Board of
Education election, on November 5, 2013. Colorado’s Fair Campaign Practices Act prohibits certain school district and district employee involvement with candidates and ballot issue campaigns. As a means of ensuring compliance with the Act, your attention is directed to these guidelines to be followed in all buildings and by all personnel …show more content…
School District Employees may:
1. Respond to unsolicited questions regarding candidates or a ballot issue. The answer should give facts, if they are available, not opinion or speculation, and should not suggest a particular vote.
2. Work on a campaign and speak out on a ballot issue and candidate(s) on their own time. Any employee who becomes involved in a campaign should take whatever steps are necessary to document that the effort is done on his or her own time. If the employee is on a recorded hour system, the record should reflect that the employee took time off from public duties to engage in campaign activities.
3. Allow groups opposed to or supportive of a ballot issue and/or candidate(s) to use school facilities to discuss the issue consistent with district policy for community use of school facilities. The policy must be applied in an even-handed fashion to both supporters and opponents of the issue (e.g., scheduling, fees, etc. must not favor one side or position).
Community Use Office shall schedule, and collect any required fees, when a group or campaign utilizes a district facility.
4. Sponsor debates on ballot issues and/or candidate(s). If you choose to do so, please
INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMUNICATION
To:
From:
Date:
Subject
ALL EMPLOYEES
AMBER ELIAS, DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL
SEPTEMBER 9, 2013
CONDUCT RELATED TO GENERAL CAMPAIGN ELECTIONS
As in past years, this office is providing this memorandum as a guide to District employees regarding their conduct in political campaigns for the upcoming general election, including the DPS Board of
Education election, on November 5, 2013. Colorado’s Fair Campaign Practices Act prohibits certain school district and district employee involvement with candidates and ballot issue campaigns. As a means of ensuring compliance with the Act, your attention is directed to these guidelines to be followed in all buildings and by all personnel …show more content…
School District Employees may:
1. Respond to unsolicited questions regarding candidates or a ballot issue. The answer should give facts, if they are available, not opinion or speculation, and should not suggest a particular vote.
2. Work on a campaign and speak out on a ballot issue and candidate(s) on their own time. Any employee who becomes involved in a campaign should take whatever steps are necessary to document that the effort is done on his or her own time. If the employee is on a recorded hour system, the record should reflect that the employee took time off from public duties to engage in campaign activities.
3. Allow groups opposed to or supportive of a ballot issue and/or candidate(s) to use school facilities to discuss the issue consistent with district policy for community use of school facilities. The policy must be applied in an even-handed fashion to both supporters and opponents of the issue (e.g., scheduling, fees, etc. must not favor one side or position).
Community Use Office shall schedule, and collect any required fees, when a group or campaign utilizes a district facility.
4. Sponsor debates on ballot issues and/or candidate(s). If you choose to do so, please