Jerome Joint School District No. 261

STUDENTS 3380

Extra-Curricular and Co-Curricular Participation Policy

Jt. Jerome School District No. 261 encourages each school to provide an opportunity for students to participate in

wholesome, organized and competitive sports. Interscholastic activities will follow the guidelines established by

the Idaho High School Activities Association. Intramural programs may be organized with the consent of the

principal.

Extra-curricular or co-curricular activities are supplements to the regular instructional programs and afford

students opportunities for enrichment. However, participation in extra-curricular 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 Extra-curricular and Co-Curricular Participation Policy

Unless the context otherwise requires, in this policy:

“Extra-curricular 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 or

choir.

“Activity Suspension or Suspension from Extra-Curricular 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 extra-curricular 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 extra-curricular 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.

“Scholastic Year” is defined as the period of time beginning with the first day of the fall extra-curricular and co-

curricular activities season and ending with the last day of school.

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

Eligibility Requirements for Extra-curricular and Co-curricular Participation

Students who participate in interscholastic or extra-curricular co-curricular activities must meet requirements

outlined in the student handbook of the school they are attending. Any student who is enrolled and participates in

a Title 1 or special education program and does not meet the minimum grade point average requirement may be

declared eligible by the building principal.

Students participating in extra-curricular activities must be in attendance all day the day of the activity. The

principal may pre-arrange exceptions if the situation warrants.

Extra-curricular 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 extra-curricular 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.

I. Activity Suspension as a Result of a School Suspension

A student will be immediately suspended from all extra-curricular and co-curricular activities when he/she

receives a suspension (not including an in-school detention) 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.

II. Activity Suspension for Repeated Minor Infractions or a Major Infraction During an Activity

A student may be suspended from an extra-curricular or co-curricular activity when he/she commits a third

minor infraction, or a major infraction, while engaged in an extra-curricular or co-curricular activity on any

school premises or at any school-sponsored activity, regardless of location. The coach or advisor will

recommend suspension to the Principal.

Consequences:

1. The incident will be reviewed pursuant to the Informal Hearing Process at Section V of this policy.

2. If the evidence supports the recommendation, 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 VI of this policy.

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

A student may be suspended from extra-curricular 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:

A. 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 below in part

III.B “Other Violations” of the policy.

B. Other Violations

1. 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 will be suspended from all extra-curricular and

co-curricular events for a period of fourteen (14) calendar days.

2. A second violation will result in a forty (40) day suspension from an extra-curricular and co-curricular

events.

3. The suspension may be reduced to a twenty-one (21) calendar days period if:

a. In the case of criminal conduct, the student receives counseling which has been approved by a

     school counselor.

b. In the case of drug, alcohol, or tobacco use, the student agrees to and completes

1) A drug/alcohol/tobacco assessment provided by the school (no cost) or the community

     (the family incurs the cost); and/or

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

      community.

4. If no event is scheduled during the period of the suspension, the student will be withheld from the

next scheduled event.

5. 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.

6. 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 extra-curricular or

co-curricular activity for the balance of the school career.

7. 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.

8. 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.

IV. Infractions Which Occur in 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.

V. 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.

VI. Student travel to or from an extra-curricular 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 extra-curricular 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 extra-curricular 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

extra-curricular 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 an extra-curricular 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 extra-curricular 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 extra-curricular 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: 04/25/2009

Revised on: 07/17/2018