St. Henry Consolidated Local School District
Bylaws & Policies
 

2431 - INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS

The Board of Education recognizes the value to the students of the District and to the community of a program of interscholastic athletics for students as an integral part of the total school experience.

The program should foster the growth of school loyalty within the student body as a whole and stimulate community interest in athletics.

The game activities and practice sessions should provide many opportunities to teach the values of competition and good sportsmanship.

The program of interscholastic athletics should provide students the opportunity to exercise and test their athletic abilities in a context greater and more varied than that which can be offered by a school or the School District alone. It should also offer an opportunity for career and educational development.

For purposes of this policy, the program of interscholastic athletics shall include all activities relating to competitive sport contests, games, events, or sport exhibitions involving individual students or teams of students of this District with those of another district.

The St. Henry Board of Education recognizes the importance and value of student participation in interscholastic and extra-curricular activities. The Board also recognizes students' academic responsibilities must be paramount. Therefore, the following academic requirements need to be met prior to participating in activities outside of the classroom.

 A.Students Enrolled in Grades 9 – 12
  1.in the immediately preceding grading period, a student must receive a passing grade in a minimum of five (5) one-unit credit courses or the equivalent, which count toward graduation;
  2.those grades must, when combined, be a total grade point average of at least 1.5 on a four-point (4.0) scale;
  3.a student enrolled in the first grading period after advancement from the eighth grade must have passed seventy-five percent (75%) of those subjects carried the preceding grading period in which the student was enrolled; and
  4.those grades must, when combined, be a total grade point average of at least 1.5 on a four-point (4.0) scale.
 B.Students Enrolled in Grades 7 – 8
  1.A student enrolled in the seventh grade for the first time will be eligible for the first grading period regardless of previous academic achievement. Thereafter, in order to be eligible, a student in grade 7 or 8 must have received passing grades in seventy-five percent (75%) of those subjects carried the preceding grading period in which the student was enrolled; and
  2.Those grades must, when combined, be a total grade point average of at least 1.5 on a four point (4.0) scale.
 C.Pass/Fail Policy
  Any student who received a failing grade for any class or course of study for the previous grading period may be eligible to participate in interscholastic/extra-curricular activities provided s/he meets all of the requirements of (A) or (B) above.
 D.Other Eligibility Requirements
  In the case of interscholastic athletics, requirements set by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (Constitution & Bylaws), must be met in addition to those set by the St. Henry Board of Education.
 E.For the Purpose of This Policy
  1."Interscholastic Athletic Activities" means a student activity program that a school or school district sponsors or participates in and that includes participants from more than one (1) school or school district (athletics) and does not include any activity in the school district's graded course of study.
  2."Extra-Curricular Activities" means those activities (clubs and organizations) that are not included in the school district's graded course of study.
  3."Grade Point Average" shall be calculated using the following scale:
       
 

A

-

4.0
 

B

-

3.0
 

C

-

2.0
 

D

-

1.0
 

F

-

0
 

P

  

Not calculated into GPA – 1/4 credit
       

4. "Preceding Grading Period" means the first grading period immediately preceding the period of participation.

  5."Summer School Grades" may not be used to substitute for failing grades from the preceding grading period of the regular school year.
  6.Students who are on an IEP are not exempt from the grading policy as set forth above.

Students identified as disabled under R.C. 3323 and the IDEA are subject to the eligibility standards established by this policy unless specifically exempted by the express terms of their individualized education program (IEP). An IEP can specify the criteria by which a grade will be determined for (a) course(s), given the individualized student’s disability.

Since the primary purpose of the athletic program is to enhance the education of participating students as indicated in this policy, the Board places top priority on maximum student participation and the values of good sportsmanship, team play, and fair competition.

The Board further adopts those eligibility standards set by the Constitution of the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) and shall review such standards annually to ascertain that they continue to be in conformity with the objectives of this Board.

No student shall be excused from a class or supervised study for an extended period of time to participate in interscholastic athletics.

The Board further directs that only those students may participate in the program of interscholastic athletics who have:

 A.maintained a satisfactory academic record;
 B.attended school regularly;
 C.demonstrated good citizenship and responsibility;
 D.returned all school and athletic equipment;
 E.refrained from participation in a contest on a noninterscholastic team, or as an individual in the same sport during the school's season.

The Superintendent shall develop appropriate administrative guidelines for the operation of the Athletic Program and a Code of Conduct for those who participate. Such guidelines should provide for the following safeguards:

 A.Prior to enrolling in the sport, each participant shall submit to a thorough physical examination by a District-approved physician and/or parents shall report any past or current health problems along with a physician's statement that any such problems have or are being treated and pose no threat to the student's participation.
 B.Any student who is found to have a health condition which may be life-threatening to self or others shall not be allowed to participate until the situation has been analyzed by a medical review panel that has determined the conditions under which the student may participate. The District shall assume no liability for any student with a health condition who has been authorized to play by the parents and their physician but not by the District.
 C.Any student who incurs an injury requiring a physician's care is to have the written approval of a physician prior to the student's return to participation.

In order to minimize health and safety risks to student-athletes and maintain ethical standards, school personnel, coaches, athletic trainers, and lay coaches shall not dispense, supply, recommend, or permit the use of any drug, medication, or food supplement solely for performance-enhancing purposes. The Superintendent shall cause to be posted in all locker rooms in buildings that include students in any grade higher than the sixth grade, the following: "Warning: Improper use of anabolic steroids may cause serious or fatal health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, growth deformities, infertility, personality changes, severe acne, and baldness. Possession, sale, or use of anabolic steroids without a valid prescription is a crime punishable by a fine and imprisonment."

The Superintendent is also to develop guidelines for ensuring that sportsmanship, ethics, and integrity characterize the manner in which the athletic program is conducted and the actions of students who participate. Such guidelines should include:

 A.criteria for judging these important qualities;
 B.procedures by which these values will be communicated to students, parents, and supporters;
 C.means for monitoring the behavior of each of these groups to ensure their behavior reflects high standards.

The guidelines should also provide a set of behavioral expectations for each type of participant as well as a Sportsmanship Code of Conduct which each type of participant is to follow. The Superintendent is authorized to implement suitable disciplinary procedures against those who violate this Sportsmanship Code.

Students will be further informed that participation in interscholastic sports is a privilege and not a right, and that they may be prohibited from all or part of their participation in such activities by authorized school personnel without further notice, hearing and/or appeal rights (See Policy 5610.05 - Prohibition From Extra-Curricular Activities).

In order to support the High School Athletic Association's program to strengthen sportsmanship, ethics, and integrity, the Board commits itself to:

 A.adopt policies (upon recommendation of the administration) which reflect the District's educational objectives and promote the ideals of good sportsmanship, ethics, and integrity;
 B.establish standards for athletic participation which reinforce the concept that athletic activities are a privilege, not a right;
 C.attend school athletic activities, serving as a positive role model and expecting the same from parents, fans, participants, coaches, and other school personnel;
 D.recognize the value of school athletic activities as a vital part of education.

R.C. 2305.23, 2305.231, 3313.53, 3313.535, 3315.062
Ohio High School Athletic Association