Participation in school activities is a privilege. School activities provide the benefits of promoting additional interests and abilities in the students during their school years and for their lifetimes.
Students who participate in extracurricular activities serve as ambassadors of the school district throughout the calendar year, whether away from school or at school. Students who wish to have the privilege of participating in extracurricular activities must conduct themselves in accordance with board policy and must refrain from activities that are illegal, immoral or unhealthy.
Students who fail to abide by this policy and the administrative regulations supporting it may be subject to disciplinary measures. The Activity Director shall keep records of violations of the good conduct rule.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop rules and regulations for school activities. Students wanting to participate in school activities must meet the requirements set out by the school district for participation in the activity.
A. CONDUCT REQUIREMENTS -ALL ACTIVITIES
1. No student shall have in their possession or have used a controlled substance (tobacco in any form, any alcoholic beverages, electronic cigarettes, or drugs).
2. No student shall steal, destroy, and/or deface any school property.
3. No student shall be convicted of a felony, aggravated misdemeanor, or serious misdemeanor.
4. If the student is observed violating one of the above by faculty, administrators, or law enforcement personnel, admits to violating any of the above, or upon thorough investigation by school personnel which determines the student committed the violation, he/she will be declared ineligible as described in Part C of these rules.
5. These are minimum requirements. Any further team rules specified by an activity coach/sponsor must be followed. Basic team rules must include:
a. Bullying and Harassment
b. Hazing
c. Social Media Usage
6. Nothing in this policy prevents a coach/sponsor from disciplining and suspending a player or performer for any conduct the coach/sponsor finds detrimental to the team or the school.
B. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Any student who wishes to participate in any extra-curricular activity must be in school attendance by noon of the day for that activity. If there are unusual circumstances, such as a funeral, the principal and/or athletic director may waive the half-day requirement. This approval must be granted before the student leaves school. Students taking a full discretionary day are not eligible to participate in a contest or performance that day/evening.
C. LENGTH OF INELIGIBILITY FOR NON-ACADEMIC VIOLATIONS
To determine the length of the ineligibility period(s) all extracurricular activities will be divided up into Athletics and Performing Arts & Leadership.
Current activities include:
Athletics: Football, Volleyball, Cross Country, Basketball, Wrestling, Track, Golf, Soccer, Baseball, & Softball
Performing Arts & Leadership: Dance, Cheer, Fine Arts Ensembles, Plays/Musicals, *NHS, *FFA, *FCCLA, Science Club.
*Affiliation with state or national organizations may require stricter eligibility requirements.
Any stricter requirements will require communication between sponsors and participants prior to any violation. Communication will be verified through student and parent signatures.
The length of the ineligibility periods will be assigned as described below.
Athletics
- First Offense – 1/3 of the season’s competitions
- Second Offense – 2/3 of the season’s competitions
- Third Offense - One year, twelve (12) calendar months, of ineligibility shall be imposed from the date of the last offense.
Performing Arts & Leadership
- First Offense – 60 calendar days
- Second Offense – 180 calendar days
- Third Offense – One year, twelve (12) calendar months
Anytime there are three or more offenses within a year, twelve (12) calendar months, the last offense shall be considered a third offense making the student ineligible for one year, twelve (12) calendar months from the date of that offense, whether or not the student is out for an activity.
Time of ineligibility will start for Performing Arts & Leadership on the day the Activities Director communicates with the student of their infraction. If a performance is part of the student’s grade, an alternative assignment will be provided. Time of ineligibly will start for
Athletics on the first competition (scrimmages are not considered competition). The ineligibility time for athletics will carryover from one sport to the next until all time of ineligibility has been served. The time that is carried over will be prorated for the new sport.
In order for an ineligibility period of time to be considered officially served, the ineligible student must start and complete the entire performing activity “season” in good faith as determined by the sponsor/coach of said activity.
D. VIOLATIONS HAVE OCCURRED WHEN:
For an offense to be considered a first offense it must have happened after initial involvement in any extra-curricular activity that could start as early as the beginning of seventh grade. It shall be counted as an offense even if the student is not currently out for an activity.
For an offense to be considered a second offense it must be the second offense to have happened within twelve (12) calendar months. It will be counted as a second offense even if the student is not currently out for an activity.
For an offense to be considered a third offense it must be the third offense to have happened within twelve (12) calendar months. It will be counted as a third offense even if the student is not currently out for an activity.
E. DUE PROCESS PROCEDURE
Due process procedures shall be followed in the handling of each case. Essentially the procedure will be the following:
1. The hearing shall be handled by the principal. He/She may include the activity director, coach(es), teacher or other administrator as he/she chooses to hear the case.
2. Prior to the hearing to determine whether a violation has occurred, the student will be furnished with a written statement from the building principal of the alleged misconduct sufficient to prepare a defense to the charge, setting out the student’s violations of the academic or conduct requirements set out herein.
3. If the student denies the charge, the principal shall explain the evidence and give the student an opportunity to tell his/her side of the story.
4. The building principal shall then determine whether the student should be declared ineligible. If the student is declared ineligible said ineligibility shall commence immediately.
5. If the student(s) is not satisfied with the decision arrived at above, he/she will. at his/her request, be granted an informal hearing before the Board of Education.
6. If the student is not satisfied with the school board’s decision, he or she may appeal within thirty (30) days to the Department of Education. However, the ineligibility period will begin with the school board’s decision and will not be delayed pending the State Board’s decision.
Legal Reference: Bunger v. Iowa High School Athletic Assn., 197 N.W.2d 555 (Iowa 1972).
In re Jason Clark, 1 D.P.I. App. Dec. 167 (1978).
Iowa Code §§ 280.13, .13A (2013).
281 I.A.C. 12.3(6); 36.15(1).
Cross Reference: 502 Student Rights and Responsibilities
503 Student Discipline
504 Student Activities
Approved: 3-14-83
Reviewed: 8-9-93, 1-26-15, 2-22-2021
Revised: 9-23-96, 1-13-03, 10-10-05, 5-10-10, 11-13-17, 1-14-19