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#5011

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17109

 POLICY

Student Code of Conduct for Athletic Activities

1. Purpose: The Board of School Directors considers participation in athletic activities to be a privilege, not a right. Students who desire to participate in the athletic activities offered by the Susquehanna Township School District are required to comply with additional rules and undertake added responsibilities.

As representatives of the school district, students involved in athletic activities are scrutinized by the public, become role models to younger children and their peers, and are ambassadors of our community. Having chosen to accept this role, it is the responsibility of every athletic participant to refrain from behavior prohibited by this policy. Each athlete will receive an Athletic Code of Conduct. The athlete, the athlete’s parent/guardian and the coach will be required to sign the Athletic Activity Contract and will be expected to operate within the framework of the code.

2. Definitions: For purposes of this policy, the terms listed below shall be defined as follows:

Alcohol means any beverage that contains ethyl alcohol (ethanol), including beer, wine or distilled spirits.

Controlled substance means any substance listed under the Controlled Substance Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, 35 P.S. § 780-101 et seq., and related regulations, as amended, including look-alike or designer drugs.

Distribute means the delivery, exchange, sale or transfer of an item or possessing an item with the intent to deliver, exchange, sell or transfer.

Drug means any controlled substance or other substance that is used for mind/behavior altering effects.

Paraphernalia means any equipment, product or matter used to store, ingest, inhale, conceal, convert, package, test or transfer a drug.

Use means possession or any manner of consumption

Verification means the accuracy of information is confirmed by any of the following methods:

• Self-admitted involvement by the student
• Witnessed student involvement by an advisor, coach, sponsor, school district employee or credible witness.
• Parental acknowledgement of their child’s involvement.
• An official police report given to the school.
• Notification of a conviction, delinquency findings or other admission of wrongdoing before a court.

Week means seven (7) consecutive days running from Sunday to Saturday.

3. Authority and Scope: To ensure the consistent enforcement of this policy, it applies to all students participating in athletic activities enrolled in grades 7 through 12. The terms of this policy apply throughout the year to conduct occurring on or off school property.

Approved by the School Board – June 27, 2005

Prior to participating in any athletic activity, students and their parents/guardians will be required to review and sign an “Athletic Activity Contract.” The contract shall apply to all athletic activities during the school year it was executed.

5. Academic Eligibility: All students participating in athletic activities are required to make their best effort with their academic work. Students who are failing their courses will not be permitted to participate in athletic activities as specified below:

Interscholastic Athletic Academic Eligibility

1)    The athletic department will complete end of the marking period grade checks. PIAA standards require that an athlete be passing at least 4.0 credits in order to remain eligible. If not passing the minimum 4.0 credits the student-athlete shall become ineligible to participate in any contests and scrimmages for a period of 15 student school days. At the end of the fourth marking period, final averages will be used to determine eligibility. The 15 day period of ineligibility will begin on the day report cards are distributed. In the case of end of year class failures the days will carry into the subsequent school year. The student-athlete remains eligible to practice but must attend AAP as per policy during the 15-day period. Failure to comply with AAP requirements will result in further ineligibility until compliance is met.

2)    The athletic department at the end of each week will also complete in-season weekly grade checks. Students failing 2.0 or more credits will become ineligible to participate in any contests and scrimmages during the following week. In addition, the student-athlete must be passing the minimum 4.0 credits as required by the PIAA, if not he/she becomes ineligible for a one-week period. The PIAA established the athletic week to run from Sunday through Saturday. The student-athlete remains eligible to practice but must attend AAP as per policy during the one-week period. Failure to comply with AAP requirements will result in further ineligibility until compliance is met.

6. Prohibition Against Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco:

PROHIBITION: All students are prohibited from engaging in the following:

• The possession, use or distribution of alcohol, tobacco and drugs or related paraphernalia: and
• The possession, use or distribution of a prescriptive drug in a manner inconsistent with the directives of the prescribing physician.

SANCTIONS: The following sanctions apply to all verified violations of this section. These sanctions are in addition to and in conjunction with any rules that fall under the Student Handbook and School Board Policy.

A.     Use/Possession of Alcohol, Drugs or Paraphernalia

First Offense: Immediate suspension from participating in athletic activities for thirty (30) calendar days. A student may be permitted to practice.

Second Offense: Suspension from all athletic activities for one calendar year from the date of the offense.

Third Offense: Total prohibition for all athletic activities for the remainder of the student’s years in the school district.

      Student Assistance Programs

In addition to the sanctions specified above, all students violating this section must participate in the student assistance program and comply with any treatment recommendations. Failure to comply with the evaluator’s recommendations will result in the student’s dismissal from athletic activities until compliance is met.

B.     Distribution of Alcohol, Drugs or Paraphernalia

First Offense: Suspension from all athletic activities for one (1) calendar year from the date of the offense.

Second Offense: Total prohibition from all athletic activities for the remainder of the student’s years in the school district.

Mandatory Reporting: The principal shall report to the police or proper authorities all incidents of students distributing alcohol or drugs.

      Student Assistance Programs

In addition to the sanctions specified above, all students violating this section must participate in the student assistance program and comply with any treatment recommendations. Failure to comply with the evaluator’s recommendations will result in the student’s dismissal from athletic activities until compliance is met.

3. Use/Possession of Tobacco in any form, whether on or off school property.

First Offense: If at school event, suspension as per District code and other penalties as allowed by District policy. One contest athletic suspension and possibly more if suspension covers more then one contest.

Second Offense: Results in athletic suspension from the team for ten (10) calendar days.

            Third Offense: Will result in additional suspension or expulsion from the team for the remainder of the season

7. “Good Citizenship” Rules for Student Behavior:

In-School Conduct: If a student is suspended from school (in or out) for any reason, the student shall be subject to the following sanctions:

First/Second Suspension: The student shall be prohibited from participating in all athletic activities during the period of the suspension.

Third or Subsequent Suspension: The student shall be suspended from the team/activity for the remainder of the season.

In/Out of School Conduct: If the school district received verified information that a student engaged in criminal conduct as defined by the Pennsylvania Crime Code or a similar state or federal statute, the student shall be subject to the following sanctions:

First Offense: Immediate athletic suspension from the team for the remainder of the season or school year depending upon the severity of the offense.

Second Offense: Suspension from all athletic activities for one (1) calendar year from the date the incident is verified.

Third Offense: Total prohibition from all athletic activities for the remainder of the student’s years in the school district.

8. Verification Process: No student shall be suspended from athletic activities until his/her building principal verified that the student violated this policy.

The following procedures apply to reports of alleged violations of this policy:

1.      Coaches and advisors shall immediately report alleged violations of this policy to the building principal.

2.      The building principal shall investigate reported violations of this policy to determine their credibility.

3.      If a report is credible, the building principal shall provide an informal hearing to explain the information to the student and parent, allow the student to respond and ultimately decide whether or not the student should be suspended from athletic activities.

4.      If the building principal finds the student violated this policy, the student’s parents/guardians shall be sent a written notice informing them that the student has been suspended from athletic activities and that the decision may be appealed.

5.      If the parents appeal the matter, it shall be heard by the building principal or assistant principal, the athletic director and two coaches/advisors not involved in the student’s activity. The student’s suspension shall continue during an appeal. The appeal board shall review the initial determination to decide if it was based on verified information.

6.      Any recommendation by the appeal board shall be subject to the final approval of the building principal.