From Molly: YOUR RIGHTS when distributing campaign literature

From: Molly Janczyk
Date: March 13, 2006
Subject: POST CORE WEBSITE: Legal Opinion:CORE attorney:visiting public buildings/schools

• There is NO SPECIFIC PROHIBITION to not be in public buildings/schools to give materials to educators, active or retired, about an STRS election that affects them all.

• All school buildings have a public policy for visitors , so follow the rules and report to the office that you are there and your purpose to make information about the STRS election available to all, vs. educators being spoon fed only information a union/organization/individual wishes them to have.

• Request visiting the staff lounge during lunch and educators before and after classes. There should be no reason to deny you and ask for one if you are denied; note it, the person who denied you and report to us.

• You may go to and from buildings during the school day and back and forth over driveways before and after school to greet educators.

We are advised to alert media if we are not treated with public fairness. List schools, persons, public meetings where you are denied access.

If you are denied, after getting data, stand outside of meeting or school and greet attendees. Remember, this is an organization or union making this decision, not individual educators who may wish to hear all options open to them. Speak with those who are receptive.

More............

Another attorney has entered this issue:

Statement: IF we are being denied the same access to buildings/schools as others who have the same purpose(candidates in the STRS election), we have the right to call in media and go to School Boards. We cannot be denied simply because we wish to present other options for the same issue. If others can visit or supply info on candidates, then, we must be allowed to do so as well or it is unfair precedence an denial of rights of voters for information to make informed decisions vs. limited ones.

Again, it is suggested we call media attention, should this be the case. Also, let them call the police. As long as you follow the rules, there is no recourse for them. Go at educator's free time. Announce who you are and why you are in the building. Speak only to educators who are free respectfully. Go before and after school.

I suggest NOT leaving materials with the office or building rep. They will most likely end in the trash. We are not there off the street to fill educators mailboxes soliciting business or strange unknown items or persons which is the basis for some areas by laws for not allowing strangers to come in and fill teachers' mailboxes. We are there for the same reason OEA and OFT have supplied their candidates' info. We do not have the same resources and funding they do and thus must hand carry and it is unfair for them to discriminate against us for that.

You may print this and carry with you based on 2 legal opinions. Personally, I'd let them call the police, prepared for media coverage, either on the spot or after the incident.

Get names of those refusing you, the school and the district.