About

Starting with the Class of 1924, the Thomas Jefferson High School yearbook, The Monticello, has been documenting the ever-changing lives of the Yellow Jacket student body. The Signal has been the campus newspaper since 1923 and the current iteration of broadcast, SwarmTV was established in 2011.

Our Mission Statements (est. 2015)

The mission of SwarmTV is to be responsible in bringing fascinating and informative content to our community with dedication from our reliable student staff.

The mission of The Signal is to communicate information to Thomas Jefferson High School efficiently through fair journalistic standards and procedures.

The mission of the Yearbook staff is to capture memories that all students will cherish by being creative, passionate, and dedicated about our yearbook.

District Policy – Student Publications

Code 633
Page 1 of 2
Title: Student Publications
The Board of Directors of the Council Bluffs Community School District has the
authority to provide reasonable guidelines for the content included in official publications
produced by students on behalf of the school or School District. An “official school
publication” is defined as content produced by students in journalism, newspaper, yearbook or,
writing or production classes and distributed to students either free or for a fee.
In the publication of official school publications, the following guidelines shall apply:
1. No student will express, publish or distribute in an official school publication
material which:
a. is obscene;
b. is libelous;
c. is slanderous or
d. encourages students to:
1) commit unlawful acts;
2) violate school rules; or
3) cause the material and substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the
school or school activity;
2. The official school publication is produced under the supervision of a faculty
advisor.
Responsibilities of Students
1. Students writing or editing official school publications will assign and edit the news,
editorial and feature contents of the official school publications subject to the
limitations of this student publications policy and the law.
2. Students will strive to achieve professional standards of accuracy, fairness,
objectivity and thoroughness in each and every aspect of official school
publications.
3. Students will strive to achieve professional standards of grammar, usage,
punctuation and spelling for clarity and accuracy of official school publications.
Responsibilities of Faculty Advisors
Faculty advisors will supervise student writers and editors to maintain professional
standards of English and journalism and to comply with this policy and the law including,
but not limited to, the restrictions against unlawful speech.
Liability
Code 633
Page 2 of 2
Title: Student Publications
Student expression in an official school publication will not be deemed to be an
expression of the District. The District, the Board and the employees or officials of the
District are not liable in any civil or criminal action for any student expression made or
published by students unless the employees or officials have interfered with or altered the
content of the student expression. The liability, if any, is only to the extent of interference
or alteration of the expression.
Appeal Procedure
1. Students who believe they have been unreasonably restricted in their exercise of
expression in an official school publication will seek review of the decision by the
building administrator.
2. Persons who believe they have been aggrieved by a student-produced official school
publication will file their complaint with the building administrator.
c. cause the material and substantial disruption of the orderly and efficient
operation of the school or school activity;
Time, Place and Manner Restrictions on Official School Publications
1. Official school publications may be distributed in a reasonable manner on or off
school premises.
2. Distribution in a reasonable manner will not encourage students to:
a. commit unlawful acts;
b. violate school rules;
d. disrupt or interfere with the education program;
e. interrupt the maintenance of a disciplined atmosphere or
f. infringe on the rights of others.
Cross References: Legal References:
505, 512, 513, 521, 609; 612; 628 Iowa Code Section 280.22______________
Approved: July 24, 2007 Reviewed: ___________ Revised: May 22, 2012
May 23, 2017

CB Jacket Journalism