Athletic Code of Conduct

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Churchill J.H.

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for 2011-2012 School Year

While a student has a legal right to attend school, the courts have held that the same right does not extend to participating in athletics. As a result, when a student elects to participate in a co-curricular activity, he/she is agreeing to abide by the standards of conduct established for that activity. Therefore, it is vitally important for both the student and the student’s parents to carefully review the expected standards of conduct established in an athletic code or any special rules established by the coach/sponsor for the given activity. And, if for whatever reason the student feels that he/she cannot abide by such, then the student should not elect to engage in the activity.

Above all else, it is important to remember that when a student-athlete chooses to violate an activity’s rules, it is the athlete who has violated his/her own oath of participation.

Galesburg Schools are members in good standing of the Illinois High School Association (JHSA) and the Illinois Elementary School Association (JESA) and adhere to the IHSA/ IESA constitution and by-laws. Galesburg Schools may impose standards and expectations which exceed those required by the IHSA and IESA.

Eligibility

Eligibility is designed to create a standard of achievement for students involved in extracurricular and athletic activities. Galesburg High School requires more than IHSA minimum standards in number of passing credits required and grade point average required. In addition, students’ academic achievement must demonstrate at certain points in their high school career that they are on track for graduation. Academic achievement is an expectation for those who exercise their privilege to participate in extracurricular and athletic activities. Tutorial services are available to all students at GHS and required for those needing assistance in achieving the eligibility requirements of this code.

All students must be enrolled in four (4) blocks.

I. All students must pass three (3) blocks on a weekly check. Students not passing 3 blocks on a weekly basis:

a. will be ineligible to participate in interscholastic activities for the following week (Monday - Saturday); and

b. will be required to participate in a tutorial program approved by the coach and athletic director.

c. students ineligible for four consecutive weeks are dropped from the team.

d. eligibility is not cumulative season-to-season.

Students must also pass three blocks each term to be eligible to participate in the next term’s activities. A minimum of two blocks must be taken at Galesburg High School. The equivalent of a three-semester hour college course may be substituted for a third and/or fourth block. The college course must be taken for high school credit and pre-approved by the high school administration. The course may be taken for a regular grade counted on the high school GPA, or pass/ fail grade which does not count in the high school GPA. Students who do not pass three blocks for the fourth term may use summer school as an extension of the fourth term.

II. Sophomore, Junior, and Senior students must have a minimum GPA of 1.75 at the end of each term. Grades are cumulative during the grading period and are based on what grade a student would receive if transferring to another school. Students not having a 1.75 GPA will be ineligible for the next term, but may become eligible if the GPA is raised at midterm.

In order to be eligible with a 1.75 GPA, you must have a of 7 grade points. To calculate grade points, A=4 points, B=3 points, C=2 points, and D=1 point.

III. Sophomore, Junior, and Senior students must be on track for graduation at the beginning of each school year, as defined by the following:

Credits needed for graduation = 28
Start of Sophomore Year = 6
Start of Junior Year = 13
Start of Senior Year = 20

Students not on track for graduation will become eligible during the school year if they achieve enough credits to be back on track for graduation. Seniors will be checked each term to determine if they are on track for graduation.

A student with any failing grades must participate in a required tutorial program approved by the coach and Athletic Director.

An athlete who is ineligible for three (3) consecutive weeks is also ineligible to practice in the following week. An athlete who is ineligible for a fourth consecutive week shall be dropped from the team.

The responsibility for counting credits, maintaining grade point average, meeting graduation requirements and all other eligibility requirements specifically outlined in the extracurricular code rests with the student and their parents/guardians.

Behavioral Expectations:

Covers a Galesburg High School Athlete year round, in or out of school.

Athletes Must Refrain From:

· Any violation of IHSA, rules or regulations

· Possession/use/distribution/sale of drugs or drug paraphernalia including all controlled substances, look-alikes, alcoholic beverages, illegal weapons, ammunition, explosives or look-alikes.

· Inappropriate use of cellular phones or electronic devices when participating in extracurricular and co-curricular activities.

· Hazing or Sexual Harassment

· Violation of administration-approved rules and regulations for a particular sport as determined by the Head Coach and acknowledged by the student athletes and their parent/guardian.

· Commission of a criminal act defined as a Felony or Class A Misdemeanor which involves striking another individual, taking or destruction of another person’s property or other violent acts against any person. A hearing for review of evidence will be conducted by the Athletic Director.

Disciplinary Responses:

Each violation for drug/alcohol related offenses requires mandatory participation in a school-sanctioned abuse/counseling program (at student’s expense) in order to maintain eligibility.

Students who are ineligible for academic or code violations may not be in school provided gear, including uniforms, at interscholastic contests held during the period of ineligibility.

Violation of Behavioral Expectations will result in the following:

· First Offense—Suspension from one-third (1/3) of contests for current or upcoming season with unfulfilled fraction to carry over to the next sport season when necessary and in compliance with all other provisions of the Athletic Code of Conduct.

· Second Offense—Suspension from two-thirds (2/3) of contests for current or upcoming sport season with unfulfilled fraction to carry over to the next sport season when necessary and in compliance with all other provisions of the Athletic Code of Conduct.

· Additional Offenses—Suspension for one calendar year from participation in athletic contests.

Note: Students who have/had a case in Teen Court are still subject to the terms and conditions of the Year Round Athletic Code section of the Secondary Code of Student Conduct.

Governing Regulations

· Violations of the Code of Conduct directly impacts student status under the Athletic Code.

· The number of offenses are cumulative throughout the high school or junior high/middle school career.

· Suspensions may carry over from one school year to the next.

·Junior high/middle school code violations do not carry over to the high school, unless the penalty for the code violation was not served in District #205 or other school setting.

· If a violation occurs during the season or post-season play, the penalty will be enforced during that particular sport and may carry over into the next sport in which the student is a participant.

· Violations occurring prior to the start of a season will be enforced during the next sport season in which the student is allowed to participate.

· Athletes are not allowed to participate in a sport for the purpose of serving a suspension in that sport rather than one where the student has a record of consistent participation.

· Penalties for violations are to be enforced in conjunction with the athlete’s record of participation. It is recognized that freshmen and sophomores may not have established a consistent record of participation.

· Suspensions are successfully completed only when the season in which the suspension is served is also successfully completed.

· All cases are decided within the Code and at the discretion of the Athletic Director.

· If a violation occurs at the time a student is injured or ineligible, the suspension will start when the student returns to practice or is academically eligible.

· An athlete suspended from school (ISSP, OSSP) is not able to participate until the full length of the suspension has been served.

Due Process

· Students alleged to be in violation of the Athletic Code will be afforded due process of law within the athletic department.

· An appeal of the Athletic Director’s decision can be made with a written request for review to the Superintendent within five days of the initial decision. The Superintendent shall review all pertinent information and communicate the decision in writing within ten days of receipt of the request for review. The decision of the Superintendent is final. The student is not allowed to participate during the appeal process.

Procedures for Random Drug Testing

 Before a student is eligible to participate in athletic/extra-curricular/co-curricular activities, they and their parents must sign an "informed consent" form (along with all other necessary forms).

 Each participant will be assigned a number which will be stored in a computer program. Sixth graders will be added to the testing group in January of their sixth grade year.

 Each week for the high school and every other week for the middle schools, five numbers will be randomly drawn from the program. The last drawn number will be used only if one of the four previously drawn students is absent. If a student is absent on the day their number is pulled, he/she will automatically be tested on the next test day. The fifth number, if it is not used, goes back into the larger pool. After each testing cycle, all numbers (excluding an absentee) go back in the pool for the next testing cycle. If a student, who has tested positive within a one (1) month window, is one of the numbers pulled, he/she will not be tested because the substance would most likely still be in his/her system. He/she will be placed back in the system for future selection.

 The Athletic Director, Activities Director, Building Administrator, or their designee will escort the selected participants from their classrooms to the designated testing site.

 The authorized testing vendor will ensure that all testing procedures, integrity specifications, and confidentiality measures are met. At the

time of collection a split specimen will be taken with one labeled A and the other B. "A" will be used for the initial test.

 Students who admit to using prohibited substances on the way to the testing site for drug testing, will not be tested, but will receive the

Appropriate consequences (1/3 season suspension, etc.) This admission will not be considered a "Voluntary Admission of Substance Abuse".

 If a student refuses to be tested, it will be deemed a positive result and appropriate consequences will be imposed.

 Parents/guardians should ensure that all prescription medications that students are taking are listed in the students’ Health Records information which is available through the school nurse. If a student is taking a short term prescription medication which is not recorded in the Health Records and results of a random drug test are positive, the student has until the next school day at 3:00 PM to supply a physician’s script or the pharmacy bottle with the label attached to the school nurse for verification. The student may continue to participate until the deadline. If no valid reason for the positive test is supplied by the deadline, the appropriate consequences will be imposed.

 The vendor will notify the Athletic Director, Activities Director, or Building Administrator of the test results. Parents/Guardians shall be notified of a positive test result as soon as possible. Students with negative test results will be mailed a congratulatory letter to them and their parents.

 If a student tests positive for a prohibited substance, that student and his/her parent/guardian shall be required to meet with the Athletic

Director, Activities Director, or Building Administrator to determine appropriate follow-up steps.

 If a student or parent/guardian believes the test results are erroneous, the parent/guardian has a right to request that a second test be conducted by the approved vendor. The cost will be borne by the student/parent/guardian. The parent must make the request to the

Athletic Director, Activities Director, or designee and pay for the test within 3 business days of the positive result. The student will not be allowed to participate until the second test results are available. Sample "B" will be used to conduct the second test. The results of the second test will be considered final. If the second test proves negative, the parent will be reimbursed for the cost of the test.

 Consequences for positive test results will be imposed as outlined in the Secondary Code of Conduct.

 Additionally, a student and a parent/guardian must complete the Insight Program at Bridgeway or complete a treatment plan as recommended by the Bridgeway staff prior to returning to the activity.

 All costs, beyond the Insight Program, associated with assessment, treatment, and follow-up testing shall be borne by the student or the student’s parent/guardian.

 The District will not release information concerning the test results and follow-up procedures to the public. The information will be shared with appropriate individuals that need to know such as parent/guardian of the student, a coach, club sponsor or supervisor if the student is limited in any way with respect to participation in an extra-curricular activity.

 Information regarding a positive test will not be placed in a student’s permanent file nor will there be any academic sanctions for a positive test.

Voluntary Admission of Substance Abuse

Voluntary admission, in writing, by a student or their legal guardian of an infraction involving substance abuse will not result in a suspension of participation in activities, but will count as a first offense.

The purpose of this language is two-fold:

· to encourage the student who believes he/she has a substance abuse problem to seek help in dealing with that problem.

· to encourage students who have committed a substance abuse infraction to admit their mistake and recognize they made a poor choice.

Once knowledge of violation becomes known to the school or police, it is too late to use the voluntary admission policy. The provision may be used only once during a student’s extracurricular or athletic career in District #205.

Transportation

The transportation code applies in all situations involving athletic events. When necessary, students may be released to ride with parents or guardians only.