School presenters seek new intervention steps to let students 'earn back' extracurricular eligibility

Presenters Mr. Reer and Mr. Ashbrook told the Union Co/Clg Corner Joint Sch Dist board they are proposing an amendment to the district's extracurricular (ECA) suspension policy that would add formal intervention and education steps so students can "earn back" eligibility lost to disciplinary suspensions.

The proposal grew out of a committee review the presenters described as prompted by parent and staff requests. "Right now we do we have plenty of students who they come to school with the hopes of playing for the football team... and a couple of bad decisions when you're 14 and 15 and you're wiped out for the next three years," Mr. Reer said, arguing long suspensions remove motivation and opportunities. Mr. Ashbrook said the current approach is "a lot of hammer and not a lot of help" and that the change would layer interventions onto the existing penalty chart rather than remove consequences.

Under the plan, the handbook would keep the existing suspension penalties but add a parallel column of educational interventions tied to first-, second- and third-offense steps. Mr. Ashbrook described a three-tier system in which interventions grow more in-person and intensive as offenses escalate, and said some funding sources could be pursued to cover costs for students who cannot pay for programs.

The presenters explained an offense categorization (category one: tobacco/vapes/alcohol; category two: marijuana/THC; category three: selling of substances) and said the starting place on the disciplinary chart would vary by category. They said career-length suspensions are rare: "in the time I've been here, it's been two." Board members pressed for examples and timelines; presenters offered a sample mechanics where completing required interventions could reduce a suspension (for example, a multi-year penalty reduced to one season if interventions are completed).

The presenters said they would invite board members to review the finalized amendment before it comes to a vote; they expected to present the amendment for approval in July.

The board did not take a final vote on the policy at this meeting; presenters asked the board to consider the framework and participate in a preview meeting before the formal vote.