The Board of Education recognizes the value of interscholastic athletics, extra-curricular, and co-curricular activities in the educational process and the values that young people develop when they have the opportunity to participate in activities outside of the traditional classroom.

Participants involved in Board-approved extra-curricular and co-curricular activities are expected to demonstrate the same level of responsibility and behavior at practices, competitions, and events as are expected in the classroom. The Board further encourages the development and promotion of sportsmanship, ethics, and integrity in all phases of the educational extra-curricular and co-curricular process and in all segments of the community, including administrators, participants, adult supervisors, parents, spirit groups, and support/booster groups involved with extra-curricular and co-curricular activities.

The purpose of this Code of Conduct is to give all students participating in extra-curricular and co-curricular activities and other persons a guide to the operation these activities in the District. Specific rules, regulations, policies, and procedures will be explained by the coaches and advisors of the various teams/activities within the District's athletic program and other District extra-curricular and co-curricular activities at the beginning of the season/school year. Students participating in these activities will be expected to adhere to not only the specific rules, regulations, policies, and procedures set forth in this code, but also specific rules provided by coaches and/or advisors for each extra-curricular/co-curricular activity and provided to the student as approved herein.

For the purpose of this Code of Conduct, extra-curricular activities are those activities approved by the Board both beyond and during the school day that have a District employee serving as an advisor and/or coach.

Extra-curricular activities shall include but are not limited to the following:

For the purpose of this Code of Conduct, co-curricular activities shall include but not be limited to, the following:

In the event a student is removed from a co-curricular activity, one (1) that involves a class grade, an alternate activity/assignment will be made available.

This Extra-Curricular/Co-Curricular Code of Conduct and the Board's Student Code of Conduct shall apply to a student during the school year, including breaks, holidays, and weekends and during the time of officially recognized summer activities regardless of whether or not the student is on school property, attending a school function or activity, on private property, or at a private party.

For example, the Extra-Curricular/Co-Curricular Code of Conduct shall apply to football players on the first day of practice, which normally starts at the end of the summer and before the academic school year begins. However, the Extra-Curricular/Co-Curricular Code of Conduct does not apply to a basketball player who has never participated in athletics, extra-curricular, and/or co-curricular activities until the first day of basketball practice. The Student Code of Conduct would, however, begin on the first day of the school year. Furthermore, this Code of Conduct and the Student Code of Conduct will continue to apply to students after their participation in athletics, extra-curricular, and co-curricular activities for the remainder of the school year. Additionally, individual advisors'/coaches' rules shall govern a student's conduct during the season.

This Code of Conduct establishes a reinstatement program that may permit a student to apply for reinstatement of their extra-curricular/co-curricular eligibility/participation. Such applications shall be made to the appropriate Building Level Extra-Curricular/Co-Curricular Council.

A student who has not previously been determined to have violated the Extra-Curricular/Co-Curricular Code of Conduct may voluntarily seek assistance for dealing with an alcohol or drug abuse problem by self-referral to their coach, athletic director, or school administrator. A student is not eligible for self-referral if the referral is to avoid consequences of violation of this policy or to report said conduct to the administrator prior to the administration's receipt of information concerning the violation from a third party (e.g., self-referral does not intend to include those times when a student comes froward to self-report a violation(s) to administrators because the student or parties believe that it is likely that the administration will receive information from a third party about the alleged violation or incident. However, a student's self-reporting of violations will be considered a positive mitigating circumstance or factor which will likely result in a Building Level Extra-Curricular/Co-Curricular Council consideration upon application for reinstatement.).

Any decisions regarding a student's utilization of these self-referral provisions shall be at the sole discretion of the administration, taking into consideration all relevant factors, on a case-by-case basis. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the nature and frequency of the student's conduct, the student's character, remedial actions of students, counseling, etc. A student may only utilize this self-referral policy one (1) time during middle school (grades 7-8). Additionally, a student may also be eligible for self-referral during grades 9-12. Self-referrals that result in no removal from participation shall still be considered a first violation of the Extra-Curricular/Co-Curricular Code of Conduct in the event of a subsequent violation.

If a self-referral student agrees to participate in an educational program approved by the Building Level Extra-Curricular/Co-Curricular Council, the student may be permitted to continue to participate in extra-curricular/co-curricular activities depending upon the student's mental and physical condition and the nature and circumstances of the student's drug or alcohol problem. The educational program may consist of, but not necessarily be limited to, assessment, counseling, and community service. Refusal or failure to complete the required educational program will result in the full penalty as provided for in this Extra-Curricular/Co-Curricular Code of Conduct.

Additional rules and regulations, consistent with this Extra-Curricular/Co-Curricular Code, may be developed by the coach or advisor for each sport or activity. Coaches'/Advisors' rules must be approved by the building principal or designee prior to issuance to students. Such rules and regulations shall be in writing and provided to each student participating in extra-curricular/co-curricular activities at the start of the season. Each coach/advisor may also impose reasonable punishment on a student found in violation of the coach's/advisor's rules and regulations.

The Superintendent has established an Extra-Curricular/Co-Curricular Council at the Building Level in order to administer and enforce the Board's Extra-Curricular/Co-Curricular Code of Conduct. This Council shall also conduct reinstatement meetings that, in certain circumstances, may be utilized by the student to apply for reinstatement of eligibility/participation with the District.

Adopted 6/16/08