Gooding Joint School District No. 231

STUDENTS                                                                                                                               3380

Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Participation

Extracurricular or co-curricular activities are supplements to the regular instructional programs and afford students opportunities for enrichment.  However, participation in extracurricular and co-curricular activities is a privilege, not a right.  I.C. § 33-512(12).  As representatives of their school and District, students participating in such activities are expected to meet high standards of behavior.

General Definitions for Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Participation Policy

Unless the context otherwise requires, in this policy:

“Extracurricular Activities” means a district and/or school authorized activities which take place outside of the regular school day and do not involve class credit, including, but not limited to athletics, student groups or organizations, and community activities for which high school letters are awarded.

“Co-Curricular Activities” are district and/or school authorized activities held in conjunction with a accredit class, but taking place outside of the regular school day including, but not limited to, debate, drama, drill team, band/choir, robotics, FCCLA, bowling, etc.

“Activity Suspension or Suspension from Extracurricular or Co-Curricular Activities” means that suspended students shall not travel, dress in uniform, associate or participate with the team or group at its scheduled event(s).  Suspended students may be allowed to participate in practices/meetings; however, the principal or designee may deem it necessary for students to be withheld from practices/meetings for the duration of the suspension.

“Controlled Substances” include, but are not limited to opiates, opium derivatives, hallucinogenic substances, including cocaine, and cannabis and synthetic equivalents or the substances contained in the plant, any material, compound mixture or preparation with substances having a depressant effect on the central nervous system, and stimulants.

“Drugs” include any alcohol or malt beverage, any inhalant, any tobacco product, any controlled substances, any illegal substance, any abused substance, any look-alike or counterfeit drug, any medication not approved and registered by the school authorities and/or any substance which is tended to alter mood, and/or any substance which is misrepresented and sold or distributed as a restricted or illegal drug.

“Drug Paraphernalia” is defined as any or all equipment, products and materials of any kind which are used, intended for use, or designed for use, in planting, propagating, cultivation, growing, harvesting, manufacturing, compounding, converting, producing, processing, preparing, testing, analyzing, packaging, repackaging, storing, containing, concealing, injecting,

ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing into the human body a controlled substance as defined in this policy.

“Emergency Activity Suspension” is defined as imposition of an activity suspension by a principal or his designee prior to an informal hearing when it is necessary to protect the health and safety of the individual(s) involved and immediate action is appropriate.

“Event” is defined as a match, game, meet, or other competitive event, including regional and/or state tournaments, competitions.  “Event” is also defined as any band or choir performance(s).

“Knowingly Present” shall mean that a student attended a gathering of two (2) or more individuals at which one or more of the attendees (other than the student at issue) were using or are in possession of drug paraphernalia, controlled substances, drugs, pornography, or alcohol or tobacco and the student knew or reasonably should have known that such use or possession was occurring.

“Minor Infraction” shall mean a minor deviation from acceptable behavior or stated student expectations which occurs while the student is engaged in the extracurricular or co-curricular activity and which is not material or substantial.  Students will be given notification of the first minor infraction.  Students and parents will be given notification of the second minor infraction through a conference and will be informed that a third minor infraction may result in activity suspension.

“Major Infraction” shall mean a material or substantial deviation for acceptable behavior or stated student expectations which occurs while the student is engaged in the extracurricular or co-curricular activity, including but not limited to insubordination toward or non-compliance with the person in charge of the activity, verbal or physical abuse (hazing, fighting), refusal of a student to identify him/herself to school personnel upon request.

“On any school premises or at any school sponsored activity, regardless of location” includes, but not be limited to buildings, facilities, and grounds on the school campus, school buses, school parking areas; and the location of any school sponsored activity.  “On any school premises or at any school sponsored activity, regardless of location” also includes instances in which the conduct occurs off the school premises but impacts a school related activity.

“Calendar Year” is defined as 12 consecutive months following a particular date.

“Scholastic Year” is defined as the period of time beginning with the first day of the fall extracurricular and co-curricular activities season and ending with the last day of school.

“Season” is defined as the first day of tryouts/practice through the last game of the state tournament for that sport.  For students involved in consecutive sports, there is no break between sport seasons; the next sport begins the same day the previous sport ends.

“Co-curricular Season” for activities that do not have a defined regular season, is Fall (August- October), Winter (November- February) and Spring (March-May).

“School Days” include only those days when school is in session.

Eligibility Requirements for Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Participation

Initial eligibility for students participating in extracurricular and co-curricular activities is based on the student’s preceding semester grades. A student will be allowed to begin or try out for a team if he or she passed five out of seven courses but will not be eligible to participate in games or events until the next grade check and meeting continued eligibility requirements. If the student’s cumulative g.p.a. is lower than 2.0 the preceding semester, the student will need an academic improvement plan in place prior to being eligible. Exceptions may be made by the building principal, but may not supersede state eligibility requirements.

Continued eligibility will be reviewed and monitored through weekly grade checks. A student will be ineligible if he or she has any F’s.  If a student has any F’s at the grade checks, the student is ineligible to participate in any event or contest until any and all failing grades are raised to a passing grade. An ineligible student may participate in team practices. Discretion may be used on a case by case basis by administration.

Citizenship will also be used to determine eligibility. Students are expected to demonstrate good citizenship, including being a good role model in the community, having good attendance, being timely, playing well with others, cooperating with others, and having a good attitude. Ineligibility and the length of the ineligibility period will be determined by coaches and administrative staff in accordance with Idaho High School Athletic Association guidelines. The coaches and administrative staff may declare a student ineligible for failure to conform to

qualities of good citizenship, and the decision may be based on one incident on or off campus, or on a pattern of behaviors which indicate poor citizenship. The length of the ineligibility period is determined by circumstances and determined by coaches and administrative staff. Such citizenship ineligibility will comply with the activity suspension requirements, below.

All students participating in extracurricular or co-curricular activities must be in attendance at school all day the day of the activity, unless the activity itself prevents attendance. Failure to comply with this requirement can result in a student not being allowed to participate in the extracurricular or co-curricular activity for that day. The Principal may make exceptions for necessary or pre-scheduled absences (i.e. dentist or doctor appointments). The Principal should be notified before the date of any pre-scheduled absence in order for the exception to be granted.

Extracurricular or Co-curricular activity Suspension

The Board believes that the safety and welfare of other students may be adversely affected when students who are involved in extracurricular or co-curricular activities commit major infractions or repeated minor infractions at school or during school activities, and/or are involved in

criminal conduct or drug use in any location.

At the beginning of each semester, teachers or coaches of co-curricular courses will identify for students how participation in the co-curricular activity impacts their course grade.  Co-curricular students who are suspended as a result of this policy will have the co-curricular course grade affected only if the reason for the suspension was related to course work or course expectations. Students who miss a co-curricular activity because of a suspension may ask to do, or be required to do, alternative assignments or special projects to make up the missed activity.

1. Activity Suspension as a Result of a School Suspension

A student will be immediately suspended from all extracurricular and co-curricular activities when he/she receives a suspension (not including an in-school suspension) from school for any reason.

Consequences:

1. The activity suspension is automatic, is for the duration of the school suspension, and runs concurrent with the school suspension.
2. This type of activity suspension cannot be appealed.

1. Activity Suspension for Repeated Minor Infractions or a Major Infraction During an Activity A student may be suspended from an extracurricular or co-curricular activity when he/she commits a third minor infraction, or a major infraction, while engaged in an extracurricular

or co-curricular activity on any school premises or at any school-sponsored activity, regardless of location.

Consequences:

1. The incident will be reviewed pursuant to the Informal Hearing Process at Section V of this policy.
2. The student may be given an activity suspension for a period of time up to and including the remainder of the season or duration of the activity in that scholastic year for that activity only.
3. If the activity suspension exceeds nine (9) school days, the parent/guardian may request an appeal as outlined in the Appeal Process at Section VII of this policy. The coach or advisor will inform the Principal of any suspension.

III. Activity Suspension for Criminal Conduct or Drug Use in Any Location During the Scholastic Year

A student may be suspended from extracurricular and co-curricular activities when he/she has been arrested or it reasonably appears to the District that he/she has violated criminal law, other than infractions or minor traffic violations; or has been involved with drug

paraphernalia, controlled substances, or drugs, including alcohol or tobacco, in any location, either on or off campus, during the scholastic year, in any of the following ways:

attempting to secure or purchase; using or having reasonable suspicion of having used;

possession; intending or attempting to sell or distribute; selling or giving away; or being knowingly present when any of the above are used, possessed, or consumed.

Consequences:

1. Violations
2. The incident will be reviewed pursuant to the Informal Hearing Process in Section V of this policy. If the evidence supports the accusation, the student may be suspended from all extracurricular and co-curricular events for a period of twenty-one (21) calendar days.
3. The suspension may be reduced to a period of fourteen (14) calendar days if:
4. In the case of criminal conduct, the student receives counseling which has been approved by a building principal or designee.
5. In the case of drug, alcohol, or tobacco use, the student agrees to and completes

1)  A drug/alcohol/tobacco assessment conducted by an approved provider (the family incurs the cost); and/or

2)  Drug/alcohol/tobacco education group, provided or facilitated by the school, if available, and/or the community.

3. If no event is scheduled during the period of the suspension, the 21-day suspension will begin on the first day of practice for the student’s next season.
4. If the student notifies school personnel (self-reports) concerning his/her criminal conduct or drug use prior to the personnel’s knowledge of the incident(s), the principal or athletic director may reduce the length of the activity suspension.
5. On the occasion of a subsequent infraction during a scholastic year, and if the evident supports the accusation, the principal or athletic director will bar the student from any form of extracurricular or co-curricular activity for one calendar year.
6. All students who receive an activity suspension for criminal conduct or drug use shall be reported to the Superintendent or designee and, if applicable, to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
7. The parent/guardian may request an appeal as outlined in the Appeal Process at

Section VII of this policy, with either a first or second offense. B.    Knowingly Present

1. First Violation: When a student violates the “knowingly present” prohibition of this policy for the first time during a scholastic year, the school resource officer

(“SRO”), principal, or athletic director:

   will hold a conference with the student;

   will notify the student’s parent/guardian and the student of the violation;

   may arrange a conference with the parent/guardian and the student; and

   will inform the student and parent/guardian of consequences for future violations of the policy.

2. Second Violation: When a student violates this “knowingly present” prohibition of this policy for the second time during a scholastic year, he/she is subject to the consequences outlined above in part III A “Violations” of the policy.

1. Infractions Which Occur During Out-of-School Trips

During an out-of-school trip, if the authorized person in charge of the activity determines that a student should be sent home early because of criminal conduct, drug use or a major infraction, the authorized person will notify the parent/guardian, and ask him/her to take charge of the return of the student.  The parent/guardian will assume any expenses incurred for the return of the student.

1. Informal Hearing Process

Prior to giving an activity suspension to a student, the principal or athletic director shall grant the student an informal hearing on the reasons for the activity suspension and the opportunity to challenge those reasons unless an emergency activity suspension is necessary.  If an emergency activity suspension is necessary, an informal hearing will be held as soon as possible after the emergency ceases to exist.

1. Student travel to or from an extracurricular or co-curricular activity

Unless other travel arrangements are authorized, students will board the bus at the school designated as point of origin for the trip and will return to the point of origin in the bus. There will be no stops along the designated route to pick up or discharge students.

The only variation allowed in this regulation is the release of students to parents in a face-to- face situation at the close of the activity before buses begin the return trip. Such release will require a signed, dated note from the parent.

The activity must provide at least one instructor\coach\ or adult sponsor for each bus on a special trip. The bus driver will be responsible for the safe operation of the bus. The sponsor will be responsible for supervision of students and enforcement of bus rules. Any adult designated by the principal as a sponsor will have such authority.

Students must follow all school bus rules with this exception: Food and drink not in glass containers will be allowed on the bus with permission of the principal. However, any debris must be cleaned up at the end of the trip and before students leave the bus.

If a student causes a disruption or hazard on the bus, a hearing will be held with the principal, driver, instructor\coach\ or adult sponsor, parent/guardian and student. The driver, instructor\coach\ or adult sponsor, parent/guardian and the student will have the opportunity to share with the principal their perceptions of the problem. If the principal finds that there

has been an infraction of bus rules, he will take the following action:

1. On the first infraction, the student will be warned that following any further infraction he/she will be declared ineligible for transportation to the extracurricular or co-curricular activities for one event.

2. On the second infraction during a semester, the student will be declared ineligible for transportation to the extracurricular or co-curricular activity for two events.

3. On the third infraction during a semester, the student will be declared ineligible for transportation to the extracurricular or co-curricular activities for the remainder of the semester.

Based on the severity of the problem as it relates to respect and safety for others, the principal may bypass step #1 and/or step #2 above and immediately declare the student ineligible for transportation for two weeks or for the remainder of the semester.

VII. Appeal Process

1. This appeal process may be used by students and their parent/guardian only in those instances where an activity suspension or transportation to extracurricular or co- curricular activities exceeds nine (9) school days.
2. The parent/guardian must request an appeal in writing within two (2) school days from the notification of the activity suspension decision.
3. The Superintendent will appoint a three-member panel composed of certificated staff members who have not been involved in the disciplinary action in question. The hearing

panel will notify the student and the parent/guardian of the date, location, and time of the hearing; the student will have an opportunity to present additional evidence regarding the circumstances of the suspension or reasons to reduce the length thereof.  The appeal must be scheduled within five (5) school days of the request.

4. If the panel determines that the evidence reviewed at the appeal supports the suspension, the suspension of the student from extracurricular and/or co-curricular activities shall be continued.
5. The student and the parent/guardian will be notified in writing of the panel’s findings and determination with respect to the student suspension from extracurricular and/or co- curricular activities within two (2) school days of the panel’s decision.
6. The panel’s determination is final, and is not appealable to the Superintendent or Board of Trustees.

VIII. Elementary Students

Students in kindergarten through sixth (K-6) grade who are in violation of this policy may have the length of the activity suspension reduced by the principal or other authorized administrator.

Policy History:

Adopted on: July 17, 2012

Revised on:  8/11/14; 3/14/17; 7/10/18, 3/12/19; 3/8/22